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Interfacial rheological properties of self-assembling biopolymer microcapsules
Kaili Xie1, Clément de Loubens, Frédéric Dubreuil
1Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, M2P2 UMR 7340, 13451, Marseille, France.
Soft Matter
|August 15, 2017
Summary
This study presents a facile, cost-efficient method for fabricating tunable biopolymer microcapsules. The research characterizes their interfacial rheological properties, offering new insights into the mechanics of these self-assembled structures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Biophysics
Background:
- Microcapsule fabrication often involves complex, multi-step processes like layer-by-layer assembly.
- Tuning mechanical properties of microcapsules efficiently remains a significant challenge in materials science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the interfacial rheological properties of self-assembling biopolymer microcapsules fabricated in a single step.
- To provide new insights into the mechanics of weakly cohesive microcapsule membranes.
- To demonstrate a facile and cost-efficient route for tuning microcapsule properties.
Main Methods:
- Formation of water-in-oil microcapsules via self-assembly of chitosan and phosphatidic fatty acid in microfluidic junctions.
- Characterization of tunable membrane thickness (40-900 nm) using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).
- Mechanical testing of microcapsules using an extensional flow chamber to determine break-up properties.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated self-assembling biopolymer microcapsules in a single, facile step.
- Demonstrated tunable membrane thickness by altering the composition of polyelectrolytes.
- Revealed a range of interfacial rheological properties including elasticity, plasticity, and yield stress, controllable via composition.
Conclusions:
- The developed method offers a cost-efficient and facile route for engineering microcapsule mechanical properties.
- The interfacial rheological behavior is directly linked to membrane thickness and physico-chemical parameters.
- This work advances the understanding and fabrication of advanced microcapsule systems.
