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Microfluidic Production of Biopolymer Microcapsules with Controlled Morphology.
- Source :
-
Journal of the American Chemical Society . 9/20/2006, Vol. 128 Issue 37, p12205-12210. 6p. 5 Graphs. - Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- We report a microfluidic approach to generating capsules of biopolymer hydrogels. Droplets of an aqueous solution of a biopolymer were emulsified in an organic phase comprising a cross-linking agent. Polymer gelation was achieved in situ (on a microfluidic chip) by diffusion-controlled ionic cross-linking of the biopolymer, following the transfer of the cross-linking agent from the continuous phase to the droplets. Gelation was quenched by collecting particles in a large pool of cross-linking agent-free liquid. The structure of microgels (from capsules to gradient microgels to particles with a uniform structure) was controlled by varying the time of residence of droplets on the microfluidic chip and the concentration of the cross-linking agent in the continuous phase. We demonstrated the encapsulation of a controlled number of polystyrene beads in the microgel capsules. The described approach was applied to the preparation of capsules of several polysaccharides such as alginate, κ-carrageenan, and carboxymethylcellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00027863
- Volume :
- 128
- Issue :
- 37
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of the American Chemical Society
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 22447658
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1021/ja0635682