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Double Emulsion Generation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane PDMS Co-axial Flow Focus Device
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The microenvironment of double emulsions in rectangular microchannels.

Shaohua Ma1, Joseph M Sherwood, Wilhelm T S Huck

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.

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|April 23, 2015
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Summary

Microfluidic double emulsions offer a protective flow environment for sensitive cells. Their inner cores exhibit low shear rates, making them ideal for flow cytometry applications, safeguarding screened items.

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Area of Science:

  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Microfluidics
  • Colloid Science

Background:

  • Flow environment in microfluidic systems is critical for applications involving sensitive materials like cells.
  • Water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) double emulsions offer compartmentalization, but their internal flow dynamics are not well understood.
  • High shear stress in microchannels can be detrimental to shear-sensitive cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare the flow characteristics within the inner aqueous cores of w/o/w double emulsions and single w/o microdroplets.
  • To evaluate the shear rate experienced by materials encapsulated within these microfluidic structures.
  • To assess the suitability of double emulsions as a protective alternative to single droplets in microfluidic applications like flow cytometry.

Main Methods:

  • Micro-Particle Image Velocimetry (μPIV) was employed to resolve the flow fields.
  • Experiments were conducted using a multiphase flow system with a viscosity ratio (λ) close to unity.
  • Flow characteristics were analyzed for varying capillary numbers (Ca) and core morphologies (plugs to pancakes).

Main Results:

  • Both single droplets and w/o/w inner cores exhibited weak recirculating flow with low velocity in the central region.
  • The flow topology in inner cores remained similar to single droplets due to interface contact and a thin lubricating film.
  • Shear rates within the droplets/cores were significantly lower (an order of magnitude) than in the bulk channel flow, confined near the walls.

Conclusions:

  • W/o/w double emulsions provide a low-shear environment within their inner cores, comparable to single droplets.
  • The reduced shear rates make double emulsions suitable for protecting shear-sensitive materials during microfluidic processing.
  • Double emulsions are a viable and protective substitute for single droplets in applications such as flow cytometry.