Microfluidic On-Chip Production of Alginate Hydrogels Using Double Coflow Geometry
Amirmohammad Sattari1,2, Sajjad Janfaza2,3, Mohsen Mashhadi Keshtiban1
1School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran 16589-53571, Iran.
ACS Omega
|October 18, 2021
Summary
This study presents a novel microfluidic device for producing microgels. The design prevents clogging by using a shielding oil phase, enabling stable and precise microgel generation for various applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Microfluidic on-chip production of microgels is vital for biological and pharmaceutical applications, especially for encapsulating sensitive materials.
- Challenges in microfluidic microgel production include device clogging due to increased precursor solution viscosity.
- Simultaneous emulsification and gelation stages can lead to operational difficulties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel microfluidic design for efficient microgel production.
- To overcome clogging issues in microfluidic devices during microgel synthesis.
- To demonstrate the generation of monodisperse microgels with controlled sizes.
Main Methods:
- A new microfluidic device design featuring two sequential coflow geometries was developed.
- A shielding oil phase was incorporated to separate emulsification and gelation processes.
- Alginate microgels were produced using calcium chloride as the continuous phase to validate the device's performance.
Main Results:
- The microfluidic device successfully generated highly monodisperse spherical droplets (CV < 3%) with diameters ranging from 60-200 μm.
- The shielding oil phase effectively protected the inner aqueous phase across different droplet formation regimes and flow conditions.
- The device demonstrated robust performance in producing alginate microgels.
Conclusions:
- The novel microfluidic design effectively prevents device clogging, enhancing microgel production efficiency.
- The device offers precise control over droplet size and monodispersity, suitable for delicate cargo encapsulation.
- This technology holds significant potential for advancing microfluidic applications in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
