Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWMThe coronavirus pandemic has highlighted how vulnerable global supply chains are, particularly in the area of pharmaceutical supply. Shortages of COVID-19 vaccines revealed how dependent Germany is on other countries. At the same time, it became clear how much potential for innovation there is in the German pharmaceutical industry. Since then, politicians and associations have been calling for a strategic realignment: the final synthesis steps for systemically important drugs should once again take place in Europe – with sustainability and efficiency in mind. In the »Smart-Form« project, we are supporting this goal by using artificial intelligence to develop a platform for optimizing and predicting formulation processes for nanotherapeutics.
AI-supported Platform for Precise Nanotherapeutics
In the »Smart-Form« project, we are developing an AI-based platform that specifically optimizes formulation processes for nanotherapeutics and makes their progression predictable.
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Accelerating the Development of Nanotherapeutics Supported by Artificial Intelligence
The Future of Medicine Production: Sustainable, Digital, and AI-Supported
The »Smart-Form« project (smart, AI-supported formulation development for effective nanotherapeutics) aims to make formulation processes for nanotherapeutics predictable, thereby making drug production more efficient. To this end, we are working with researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems IMM to develop an AI-supported platform that enables a deeper understanding of the complex manufacturing processes involved in nanotherapeutics and optimizes these processes through knowledge – and data-based simulations. Until now, manufacturing has been varied and optimized manually and through individual data collection using the trial-and-error principle.
Understanding and Developing New Active Ingredients More Efficiently With AI
Another focus of the project is research into innovative materials. The physicochemical properties of new starting materials are analyzed and transferred to AI-based models in order to better understand molecular interactions and mechanisms of action. Combining this with known data provides a comprehensive picture of the efficacy and toxicity of new formulations.
In the »Smart-Form« project, our researchers have to overcome two technical challenges: Laboratory technology must be developed to produce formulations in a controlled and, as far as possible, parallelized manner. Degrees of freedom such as temperature and composition are to be used in a targeted manner. In addition, reliable measurement data must be collected to ensure product quality.
In addition, researchers must develop AI algorithms for a small database. The available measurement data is limited. Therefore, specialized AI models are needed that enable reliable predictions and optimizations with little but meaningful data. We are developing AI methods that integrate user knowledge and thus increase predictive power. This is supplemented by techniques for optimal experimental design and mechanistic simulations. Fraunhofer IMM contributes its expertise in micromixer technology – a key technology for the controlled production of nanoformulations.
Vision: Personalized and Resource-Efficient Medicine Through »Smart-Form«
The platform developed in the project not only makes formulation development more effective and sustainable. It also helps to better predict the biological interactions of nanotherapeutics in the body. This includes, in particular, what is known as biodistribution – i.e., the question of how an active ingredient is distributed in the body after administration. The aim is to improve the predictability of the effect of nanotherapeutics in patients – a decisive step toward personalized and resource-saving medicine.
Project Funding and Duration
The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health is funding the project. »Smart-Form« runs from August 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.
Project Partner
Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems IMM