IN FLOW will support the uptake of flow technology in the production of health and personal care products. An open platform and pilots will help Euregio-based companies get ready for market-testing.
Medication, vitamins, cosmetics and fragrances - why do they work the way we want them to? Because inactive ingredients control the release of active ingredients. We want sunscreen to work for a couple of hours; perfume should last for a day. A pill should release its dose when it reaches the stomach or bowels. A too early release would make this pill ineffective, while the release of a too large amount would be toxic. Thus, the inactive ingredient is a ‘carrier’ that controls when, where and how much of the active substance is released. This makes it a key component of medication and cosmetics. Encapsulating active substances is called ‘formulation'.
IN FLOW promotes a new, cutting-edge way of formulation: flow chemistry. This involves a new type of flow reactor that makes the process more efficient, reliable, safe and flexible. Its dimensions illustrate these advantages: while conventional reactors have the size of a room, the new flow reactor measures only 80 centimetres in length. This makes flow chemistry a promising technology that allows the development of novel, high-potential products for the healthcare, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry.
IN FLOW
IN FLOW – an acronym for innovation and flow technology - encourages the introduction of flow tech-based products on the market. Flow technology has already delivered batches and has a Technology Readiness Level rated at 3. IN FLOW will prepare the step to market-testing (Technology Readiness Levels 6-7). The project’s Open Technology Platform should support companies in this process. It serves as a company database and as a platform to share know-how, technology, protocols, validation, hardware, facilities and end-product delivery. Already 7 companies from 4 regions of the Euregio have already signed up. IN FLOW’s second objective is to develop infrastructure and best practices. Finally, the project will run 3 pilots in 4 different regions, with companies responding to end-user demands.
Interreg IV
IN FLOW departs from the know-how from a previous Interreg project, BioMIMedics. This project delivered research on nanomaterials, including medical applications such as drug delivery. BioMIMedics ran during Interreg IV.
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IN FLOW is led by University of Liège and runs from 2018 until 2021.
