Industrial Sonomechanics (ISM), offers ultrasonic processors for the production of nanosized drug crystals. Our patented Barbell Horn® Ultrasonic Technology (BHUT) allows us to scale up processes from the lab to the industrial scale, guaranteeing reproducible and predictable results. Many biologically active compounds (e.g., drugs and nutraceuticals) exhibit poor water solubility, which complicates their delivery to the blood stream and reduces the associated bioavailability. Top-down nano-crystallization (particle size reduction to the nanometer range) of these substances increases their aqueous dissolution rate and solubility, which results in improved bioavailability, accelerated onset of action, and decreased potential of harmful side-effects. What is nano-crystallization? Nano-crystallization is a top-down particle size reduction process that breaks drug or nutraceutical crystals down to the nanometer range (typically below 1,000 nm). Reducing particle size to the nanoscale dramatically increases the surface area-to-volume ratio, which improves the aqueous dissolution rate and solubility of poorly water-soluble compounds. This results in enhanced bioavailability, faster onset of action, and reduced side-effect potential. How does the ultrasonic nano-crystallization process work? In ultrasonic nano-crystallization, high-intensity acoustic cavitation generated by an ultrasonic processor breaks drug or nutraceutical crystals suspended in a liquid medium into nanoscale particles. ISM’s patented Barbell Horn® Ultrasonic Technology (BHUT) delivers the extreme shear forces required for efficient particle size reduction — at amplitudes high enough for industrial-scale processing, not just laboratory use. What compounds benefit from ultrasonic nano-crystallization? Nano-crystallization is primarily used for biologically active compounds with poor water solubility — a common challenge in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulation. Examples include poorly soluble drug APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients), nutraceutical compounds, botanical extracts, and any crystalline material where improved dissolution rate, bioavailability, or onset of action is desired. Can ISM's nano-crystallization process scale from lab to industrial production? Yes. ISM’s patented Barbell Horn® Ultrasonic Technology (BHUT) maintains the same high ultrasonic amplitudes and processing conditions at every scale — from the LSP-600 (lab) to the BSP-1200 (bench) to the ISP-3600 (industrial). Any nano-crystallization process developed at lab scale transfers directly to production without re-optimization or loss of particle size distribution quality. What is the advantage of ultrasonic nano-crystallization over other particle size reduction methods? Compared to conventional milling (ball milling, media milling) and high-pressure homogenization, ultrasonic nano-crystallization with ISM’s BHUT-based processors offers simpler equipment setup and operation, direct scalability from lab to industrial volumes, precise temperature control to protect heat-sensitive compounds, continuous in-line or batch operation, and reproducible results without the need for extensive re-optimization at each scale.
