Using a Microdevice to Generate Alginate Droplets in Sunflower Oil

Microfluidic devices may provide significant technological advancement in the production of micro and nanoparticles of interest in the pharmaceutical sector, for instance, particles used as drug carriers (Yeh et al., 2013). Indeed, microfluidics enables their production with precise control of the dimensional distribution, not achievable with conventional beaker methods. The particle size is crucial for the optimal operation, thus representing a key target along with the generation frequency. The device geometry, properties, and flow rates of the fluids are the main parameters that affect the generation process. In this work, we investigate the production of alginate droplets in an X-shaped microdevice (Tomasi Masoni et al., 2022). More specifically, we feed an alginate solution in sunflower oil working in the dripping regime. Experimental visualizations are carried out for different flow rates and concentrations of the surfactant to comprehend their effect on droplet formation. Interestingly, we identify operating conditions that prevent the formation of satellite droplets to preserve a narrow dimensional distribution.