Highly Uniform Droplet Generation Enabled by Microfluidic Impact Printing and Its Application in Lyophilized...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Microfluidics
• Droplet Generation Technology

Background:

• Accurate and uniform droplet generation is vital for biomedical applications.
• Existing methods face challenges in achieving both large volume ranges and high uniformity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a droplet generation technology with a large volume range and high uniformity.
• To explore factors influencing droplet volume in microfluidic impact printing (MIP).
• To apply this technology for preparing uniform lyophilized microbeads.

Main Methods:

• Investigated the impact of liquid level height, flow resistance distribution, and nozzle size in MIP.
• Optimized microchannel flow resistance and nozzle dimensions.
• Applied the developed technology to microbead preparation.

Main Results:

• Achieved on-demand droplet generation with volumes ranging from 0.4 nL to 610 nL.
• Demonstrated high droplet uniformity with a coefficient of variation (CV) as low as 0.55%.
• Successfully prepared highly uniform lyophilized microbeads.

Conclusions:

• Developed a versatile droplet generation technology for subnanoliter to submicroliter volumes.
• Validated its application in producing uniform lyophilized microbeads.
• Highlighted its potential in digital PCR, pharmaceutical preparation, and concentration array construction.