Generation of antibubbles from core-shell double emulsion templates produced by microfluidics

We report the preparation of antibubbles by microfluidic methods. More specifically, we demonstrate a two-step approach, wherein a monodisperse water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion of core-shell construction is first generated via microfluidics and freeze-dried thereafter to yield, upon subsequent reconstitution, an aqueous dispersion of antibubbles. Stable antibubbles are attained by stabilization of the air-water interfaces through a combination of adsorbed particles and polymeric surfactant. The antibubbles strongly resemble the double emulsion templates from which they were formed. When triggered to release, antibubbles show complete release of their cores within about 100 ms.