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Multiplex coaxial flow focusing for producing multicompartment Janus microcapsules with tunable material compositions
Qiang Wu1, Chaoyu Yang, Guangli Liu
1Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China.
Lab on a Chip
|August 17, 2017
Summary
We developed a multiplex coaxial flow focusing (MCFF) process to create tunable multicompartment Janus microcapsules (MJMs). These microcapsules show promise for applications in cell culture, drug delivery, and biomedical imaging.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Fabricating complex microcapsules with multiple compartments is challenging.
- Controlling material composition within distinct microcapsule compartments is crucial for advanced applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple, efficient, and scalable method for producing multicompartment Janus microcapsules (MJMs).
- To demonstrate the tunability of material compositions within MJMs.
- To explore potential applications of MJMs in benchtop and in vitro settings.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a multiplex coaxial flow focusing (MCFF) process for single-step MJM fabrication.
- Incorporated magnetic nanoparticles for controlled alignment and photopolymerization.
- Encapsulated multiple cell types within sodium alginate MJMs for co-culture experiments.
Main Results:
- Successfully produced MJMs with tunable core-shell structures and material compositions.
- Demonstrated controlled alignment and rotation of magnetic nanoparticle-loaded MJMs.
- Achieved successful co-culture of four different cell types within sodium alginate MJMs for seven days.
- Showcased the ability to produce MJMs with three or more compartments by increasing coaxial needles.
Conclusions:
- The MCFF process is a cost-effective and scalable method for mass-producing MJMs with precise control over composition and size distribution.
- MJMs fabricated via MCFF hold significant potential for biomedical imaging, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine applications.
