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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Particle Templated Emulsification enables Microfluidic-Free Droplet Assays

Particle Templated Emulsification enables Microfluidic-Free Droplet Assays

Published on: March 9, 2021

Double-emulsion drops with ultra-thin shells for capsule templates.

Shin-Hyun Kim¹, Jin Woong Kim, Jun-Cheol Cho

¹School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

|August 4, 2011

Summary

We developed a novel emulsification method to create ultra-thin, stable double-emulsion drops. These core-shell structures, with walls as thin as a few nanometers, show great potential for encapsulation applications.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Chemical Engineering
Biotechnology

Background:

Encapsulation technologies are crucial for delivering sensitive compounds like drugs and nutrients.
Existing methods often struggle to create stable microcapsules with precisely controlled, ultra-thin walls.
Developing robust, scalable techniques for fabricating such structures remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce a new, single-step emulsification technique for producing monodisperse double-emulsion drops with core-shell geometry.
To demonstrate the formation of ultra-thin, stable fluid shells in these double-emulsion drops.
To showcase the potential of this method for creating nanometer-thick biodegradable microcapsules for advanced applications.

Main Methods:

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Last Updated: May 30, 2026

Particle Templated Emulsification enables Microfluidic-Free Droplet Assays

Particle Templated Emulsification enables Microfluidic-Free Droplet Assays

Published on: March 9, 2021

Triplet Fusion Upconversion Nanocapsule Synthesis

Triplet Fusion Upconversion Nanocapsule Synthesis

Published on: September 7, 2022

Utilizing a microfluidic capillary device to create a biphasic flow.

Employing a sheath flow of a high-affinity fluid along the capillary wall to encapsulate an innermost fluid.

Demonstrating solidification of the thin fluid shell to form stable microcapsules.

Main Results:

Successfully generated monodisperse double-emulsion drops with a core-shell structure.
Achieved ultra-thin fluid shells, with potential solidified thicknesses down to tens of nanometers.
Created stable, biodegradable poly(lactic acid) microcapsules with nanometer-scale shells.

Conclusions:

The developed emulsification technique offers a robust method for fabricating stable, core-shell structures with ultra-thin walls.
These nanometer-scale microcapsules hold significant promise for advanced encapsulation and delivery systems.
The technique's versatility is highlighted by the creation of biodegradable poly(lactic acid) microcapsules suitable for various industries.