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Microfluidic Production of Semipermeable Microcapsules by Polymerization-Induced Phase Separation
Bomi Kim1, Tae Yoon Jeon1, You-Kwan Oh2
1†Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|May 29, 2015
Summary
Researchers developed a microfluidic method to create microcapsules with tunable, size-selective permeability. This technique uses polymerization-induced phase separation for advanced drug delivery and biocatalysis applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Semipermeable microcapsules are crucial for controlled drug release, studying cell interactions, and enzyme/catalyst isolation.
- Existing methods often lack precise control over permeability and mechanical stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a microfluidic strategy for fabricating monodisperse microcapsules with controllable, size-selective permeability.
- To investigate the mechanism of polymerization-induced phase separation for pore formation in microcapsule shells.
Main Methods:
- Generation of monodisperse water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double-emulsion drops using a capillary microfluidic device.
- Photopolymerization of monomers in the ultrathin shell, inducing phase separation between resin and oil.
- Dissolution of the oil phase to create regular pores, resulting in size-selective permeability.
Main Results:
- Successfully created monodisperse microcapsules with tunable pore sizes and size-selective permeability.
- Demonstrated control over permeation cutoff by adjusting oil fraction and monomer-oil affinity.
- Achieved high mechanical stability, chemical resistance, and encapsulation efficiency.
Conclusions:
- The microfluidic strategy offers a robust method for producing microcapsules with tailored permeability.
- These microcapsules hold significant potential for applications in drug delivery, diagnostics, and biocatalysis.
- The controllable pore size and stability enhance their utility in various advanced applications.
