Bio Break: Addressing Shear in Drug Delivery Device Design

Resources

Bio Break: Addressing Shear in Drug Delivery Device Design

Topic: Bio Break

In this episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan explore one of the most critical challenges in drug delivery device design: shear stress. When designing systems for biologics and gene therapies, avoiding shear stress is essential to ensure the viability and activity of biomolecules like proteins, antibodies, and viruses.

Joris provides a comprehensive explanation of shear, defining it as the pressure and force that can disrupt or inactivate sensitive biomolecules during fluid transport. Whether caused by abrupt fluid path changes, bubbles, or high-friction pumps, shear poses a significant risk to the efficacy of advanced therapies.

Key Takeaways from the Episode

  • Understanding Shear Stress: Shear occurs when fluid is forced through abrupt changes in its path or exposed to uncontrolled movement. For biologics, shear can lead to molecule clustering or inactivation, rendering treatments ineffective.
  • Design Solutions to Reduce Shear:
    • Optimize Fluid Pathways: Use simulation tools like computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to identify and eliminate areas with abrupt fluid movement. Rounded pathways and smoother transitions help minimize turbulence and pressure.
    • Low-Shear Pumps: Select pumps specifically designed to handle biomolecules gently, preserving their activity and integrity.
  • Testing for Success: After designing a low-shear system, functional testing is critical. For example:
    • Measure the viability of cells after passing through the device.
    • Verify that antibodies, viruses, or other biomolecules remain active and effective post-delivery.

By addressing shear stress during the design phase, drug delivery devices can ensure biologics reach their target intact and active, maximizing therapeutic impact. For developers working with advanced therapies like gene therapy products, these design principles are essential to delivering cutting-edge care to patients.

This episode is a must-watch for engineers, product designers, and healthcare innovators seeking to tackle the complexities of drug delivery systems. Learn actionable strategies to refine your designs and improve the outcomes of sensitive therapeutics.

Addressing Shear in Drug Delivery Device Design

Two professionals discussing strategies for repurposing medical devices into new market sectors, sitting at a table with mugs featuring their names (Nick and Joris) and a star logo. The background is a blurred office or laboratory setting. The overlay text reads, 'New Markets Ahead! Repurposing Medical Devices,' in bold purple and black fonts, emphasizing innovation and market expansion.

Bio Break: Strategies for Expanding Market Reach

Nick and Joris explore the fascinating world of repurposing existing medical device technologies for new market sectors. As engineers and innovators, we often focus on creating brand-new solutions, but what about leveraging tried-and-true technologies to expand into untapped markets? This strategy not only opens doors to new revenue streams but also maximizes the potential of existing innovations.

Two professionals engaged in a discussion at a wooden table in a laboratory setting, with the text 'How to Target Drug Delivery' prominently displayed above them. One participant wears a plaid shirt, while the other dons a checkered shirt, and both have coffee mugs featuring their names. The background showcases a blurred laboratory environment, adding a professional and scientific atmosphere to the scene.

Bio Break: How to Ensure Targeted Drug Delivery Hits the Right Spot

In this episode of Bio Break, Nick Allan and Joris van der Heijden tackle the fascinating challenge of targeted drug delivery. When administering drugs to specific areas in the body, how can we be certain they reach the intended target? Nick shares an exciting example involving an intranasal device designed to deliver drugs precisely to the olfactory cleft—an area located between the eyes.

Medical Device Resolutions This image features a notepad with "2025" written boldly at the top, accompanied by a checklist containing three checked boxes. Nearby, there is a pair of eyeglasses, a cup of coffee, a pen, and a calculator, all arranged on a wooden table.

2025 Medical Device Resolutions Round-Up

Medical Device Commercialization Resolutions include Improved communications, aligning goals, using new tools, going paperless

Two individuals sit at a wooden table in a bright laboratory setting, deeply engaged in discussion. One person gestures animatedly, emphasizing a point, while the other listens intently, with a notebook open in front of them. Both have mugs on the table labeled with their names, adding a personal touch. The text overlay reads 'Shear Stress: Risks & Solutions' in bold and engaging typography, with the backdrop of lab equipment creating a professional yet approachable atmosphere.

Bio Break: Understanding Shear Stress

Nick Allan and Joris van der Heijden dive into a critical concept in drug delivery and biopharmaceutical development: shear stress. Understanding shear stress, especially when dealing with delicate therapies like cell and gene treatments or mRNA vaccines, can have profound effects on drug viability and efficacy. Nick walks us through how shear stress is identified, measured, and mitigated during product design and development.