Microfluidic fabrication of composite hydrogel microparticles in the size range of blood cells
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Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The fabrication of alginate hydrogel microparticles with embedded liposomes and magnetic nanoparticles for radiofrequency controlled release of encapsulated chemical cargo was considered. An extractive gelation process was implemented in a microfluidic device, which enabled the production of uniform composite microparticles of dimensions comparable to those of blood cells (between 5 and 10 μm). The critical parameters that control the extractive gelation process were systematically explored and feasible values that provide microgel particles of a defined size and morphology were identified. First, the initial water-in-oil droplet is formed in a flow-focusing junction whose size is controlled by the flow-rate of the oil phase. Then, the train of droplets is sandwiched between two streams of oil containing calcium ions. In that way, a flux of water molecules from the droplets towards the continuous phase as well as a transport of calcium ions towards the disperse phase are initiated. The final microparticle properties were thus found to be sensitive to three elementary sub-processes: (i) the initial droplet size; (ii) the extraction of water into the oil phase, which was controlled by the volume of the oil phase and its initial moisture content; and (iii) the kinetics of ionic cross-linking of the alginate matrix, which was controlled by the varying calcium concentration. The size and morphology of the final composite microgels were fully characterized.
Date Issued
2016-10-21
Date Acceptance
2016-10-21
Citation
RSC Advances, 2016, 6 (105), pp.103532-103540
ISSN
2046-2069
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
103532
End Page
103540
Journal / Book Title
RSC Advances
Volume
6
Issue
105
Copyright Statement
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.
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Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry
PROTEIN RELEASE
DRUG-DELIVERY
MICROGELS
SHAPE
MICROCAPSULES
NANOPARTICLES
ENCAPSULATION
TEMPERATURE
GENERATION
STABILITY
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2016-10-21