MINT: Better understanding for better formulation and better administration!

MINT presentation

The MINT laboratory is affiliated to the University of Angers, as well as the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and The French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Located within the Hospital Facility, the MINT laboratory consists of 40 researchers and PhD students with expertise in diverse fields including physical-chemistry; pharmaceutical technology; chemical and science engineering; biological evaluation; and imaging. All our research focus on the design of nano- and micro-scaled vectors for the delivery of therapeutics (encompassing proteins, anti-cancer drugs, DNA, SiRNA, mRNA, etc.) and/or imaging probes. [1] In this regard, MINT has a technological platform, SynNanoVect [2], dedicated to academic and industrial R&D projects involving the development and implementation of processes for the formulation, purification and advanced physicochemical characterization of DDS.

NanoPULSE: The First Micromixing Method Delivering Consistent LNP Formulations Seamlessly Across All Scales

MINT has been developing microfluidics expertise for more than 10 years, through the conception of a homemade thermalized lipid nanocapsules formulation pilot (pioneer system of the LNP Pack® system), the 3D printing of microfluidic chips with various designs for the formulation of lipid-based nano drug delivery systems (DDS). These nano DDS have been successfully used for encapsulation of different active pharmaceutical ingredients such as amiodarone [3], propofol [4] and voriconazole [5]. An important aspect of our work has always been to emphasize the characterization of our formulated DDS and the understanding of the formulation pathway [6]. In parallel, Inside Tx developed its own nanoparticle manufacturing / formulation devices and asked for our expertise on DDS characterization to advance the development of NanoPULSE® technology. After numerous high-quality scientific exchanges since the beginning of the Inside Tx story with their cofunders, we launched a successful collaboration in the frame of PhD thesis of Elio Gereige on the NanoPULSE® [7-9].

HexARN: : Breakthrough Technologies for RNA-based Therapies

MINT collaboration with Inside Tx continues and has now expanded to join OSE Immunotherapeutics as part of the HexARN project founded by Bpifrance within the framework of France 2030 plan and by the Région Pays de la Loire. The industrial/academic consortium is committed to tackling a major challenge: developing an mRNA-LNP platform to propose new innovative targeted therapies from development to production.

Engaged partners 

References

[1] MINT website: https://mint.univ-angers.fr/en/index.html

[2] SynNanoVect website: https://sfricat.univ-angers.fr/fr/plateformes/synanovect.html

[3] J. Chen, S. Tamareille, E. Chèvremont, J.-C. Gimel, B. Calvignac, D. Dallerac, N. Lautram, T. Le Lay, C. Rapenne, I. Verdu, P. Saulnier, E. Martinez, G. Lefebvre, Distribution of amiodarone between lipid nanocapsules and residual micelles: Tangential flow filtration as a purification method and its impact on cytotoxicity, 2025, International Journal of Pharmaceutics , Vol. 677, p. 125651

[4] E. Tireau, M. Bonnin, G. Lefebvre, L. Stinat, E. Chevremont, D. Dallerac, N. Lautram, J.-C. Gimel, B. Calvignac, F. Lagarce and S. Crauste-Manciet, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2026, Vol. 692, p. 126640

[5] L. Stinat, M. Bonnin, J.-C. Gimel, A. Gastebois, B. Razafimandimby, E. Tireau, N. Lautram, D. Dallerac, G. Lefebvre, S. Verron, B. Calvignac, S. Crauste-Manciet, F. Lagarce, Microfluidic ocular formulation of Voriconazole designed for hospital production, 2026, Drug Delivery and Translational Research; accepted

[6] N. Rolley, M. Bonnin, G. Lefebvre, S. Verron, S. Bargiel, L. Robert, J. Riou, C. Simonsson, T. Bizien, JC. Gimel, JP. Benoit, G. Brotons and B. Calvignac, Galenic Lab-on-a-Chip concept for lipid nanocapsules production, Nanoscale, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2021, 13, 11899 – 11912

[7] E. Gereige, A. Nsamela, C. Counil, M. Baroud, M. Kerhuel, R. Oliveres, T. Guérinier, C. Pichon, M. Bonnin, B. Calvignac, NanoPULSE: The first micromixing method delivering consistent lipid nanoparticle formulations seamlessly across all scales, SF Nano, November 2025, Lyon, France (oral communication)

[8] E. Gereige, A. Nsamela, M. Kerhuel, R. Oliveres, M. Bonnin, B. Calvignac, NanoPULSE: The First Micromixing Method Delivering Consistent LNP Formulations Seamlessly Across All Scales, NanoMed Europe 2025 (NME25), European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine (ETPN), May 2025, Barcelona, Espana (oral communication)

[9] E. Gereige, C. Counil, A. Nsamela, M. Kerhuel, R. Oliveres, T. Guérinier, M. Bonnin, B. Calvignac, NanoPULSE: The First Micromixing Method Delivering Consistent Lipid Nanoparticle Formulations Seamlessly Across All Scales, CRS, July 2025, Philadelphia, USA (poster presentation)