Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 2, 2025
10:17
Patterning of Microorganisms and Microparticles through Sequential Capillarity-assisted Assembly
Published on: November 4, 2021
3.5K
Tuning Size and Morphology of mPEG-b-p(HPMA-Bz) Copolymer Self-Assemblies Using Microfluidics
Jaleesa Bresseleers1,2, Mahsa Bagheri3, Coralie Lebleu4
1Department of Bio-Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Polymers
|November 5, 2020
Summary
Microfluidics enables precise control over nanoparticle size and morphology for drug delivery. This study shows how flow conditions and polymer properties influence self-assembly into micelles or vesicles.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Nanoparticle design is crucial for effective drug delivery systems.
- Tailoring nanoparticle size and morphology is key to optimizing performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the precise tailoring of nanoparticle size and morphology during polymer self-assembly.
- To explore the use of microfluidics for controlled nanoparticle formation.
Main Methods:
- Self-assembly of four poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(N-2-benzoyloxypropyl methacrylamide) (mPEG-b-p(HPMA-Bz)) block copolymers using nanoprecipitation.
- Utilized microfluidics under well-defined flow conditions and varying concentrations.
- Analyzed nanoparticle size and morphology, including micelles and vesicles.
Main Results:
- Nanoparticles from polymer A (17.1 kDa hydrophobic block) increased in size (55-90 nm) and formed vesicles at lower concentrations and slower flow rates.
- Nanoparticles from polymer D (2.7 kDa hydrophobic block) also increased in size (35-70 nm) and formed vesicles regardless of concentration at slower flow rates.
- Polymers B (10.0 kDa) and C (5.2 kDa) primarily formed micelles with minimal size variation.
Conclusions:
- Microfluidics offers facile control over mPEG-b-p(HPMA-Bz) block copolymer self-assembly.
- Size and morphology of nanoparticles can be precisely tailored for drug delivery applications.
- This method is attractive for scaled-up production of tailored nanoparticles.
