The
reliance of pharmaceutical production on batch reactors dating
back to the 20th century has exposed vulnerabilities in the supply
chains of essential medicines, which were exacerbated by recent global
challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions.
Modern alternatives such as flow microreactors (FMRs) promise streamlined
chemical production in small channels, enabling precise local production
with advantages such as efficiency, environmental friendliness, and
potential cost reduction. In particular, the field of bioconjugate
synthesis has expanded rapidly alongside traditional small-molecule
drugs. This study describes the development and optimization of a
Portable FMR system designed to fit the size constraints of a suitcase.
The system was successfully tuned to withstand practical applications,
and the performance was stabilized by using a feedback mechanism based
on actual flow measurements relative to the pressure (or viscosity).
The mixing capability was verified by using the Villermaux–Dushman
reaction. Bioconjugate synthesis, exemplified by the PEGylation of
interleukin-6, showcased successful mono-PEGylation while reducing
aggregation rates. Additionally, the synthesis of antibody–drug
conjugates was efficiently accomplished by using a tandem-mode reactor
system, highlighting advancements in this field. To the best of our
knowledge, this is the first report on the development of a Portable
suitcase-sized FMR device using bioconjugate syntheses.