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Zhu Z, Chen T, Wu Y, Wu X, Lang Z, Huang F, Zhu P, Si T, Xu RX. Microfluidic strategies for engineering oxygen-releasing biomaterials. Acta Biomater 2024; 179:61-82. [PMID: 38579919 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
In the field of tissue engineering, local hypoxia in large-cell structures (larger than 1 mm3) poses a significant challenge. Oxygen-releasing biomaterials supply an innovative solution through oxygen delivery in a sustained and controlled manner. Compared to traditional methods such as emulsion, sonication, and agitation, microfluidic technology offers distinct benefits for oxygen-releasing material production, including controllability, flexibility, and applicability. It holds enormous potential in the production of smart oxygen-releasing materials. This review comprehensively covers the fabrication and application of microfluidic-enabled oxygen-releasing biomaterials. To begin with, the physical mechanism of various microfluidic technologies and their differences in oxygen carrier preparation are explained. Then, the distinctions among diverse oxygen-releasing components in regards for oxygen-releasing mechanism, oxygen-carrying capacity, and duration of oxygen release are presented. Finally, the present obstacles and anticipated development trends are examined together with the application outcomes of oxygen-releasing biomaterials based on microfluidic technology in the biomedical area. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Oxygen is essential for sustaining life, and hypoxia (a condition of low oxygen) is a significant challenge in various diseases. Microfluidic-based oxygen-releasing biomaterials offer precise control and outstanding performance, providing unique advantages over traditional approaches for tissue engineering. However, comprehensive reviews on this topic are currently lacking. In this review, we provide a comprehensive analysis of various microfluidic technologies and their applications for developing oxygen-releasing biomaterials. We compare the characteristics of organic and inorganic oxygen-releasing biomaterials and highlight the latest advancements in microfluidic-enabled oxygen-releasing biomaterials for tissue engineering, wound healing, and drug delivery. This review may hold the potential to make a significant contribution to the field, with a profound impact on the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Zhu
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Tianao Chen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Yongqi Wu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Xizhi Wu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Zhongliang Lang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Fangsheng Huang
- Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Pingan Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Ting Si
- Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
| | - Ronald X Xu
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; School of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China.
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2
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Zhu Z, Chen T, Huang F, Wang S, Zhu P, Xu RX, Si T. Free-Boundary Microfluidic Platform for Advanced Materials Manufacturing and Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2304840. [PMID: 37722080 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202304840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics, with its remarkable capacity to manipulate fluids and droplets at the microscale, has emerged as a powerful platform in numerous fields. In contrast to conventional closed microchannel microfluidic systems, free-boundary microfluidic manufacturing (FBMM) processes continuous precursor fluids into jets or droplets in a relatively spacious environment. FBMM is highly regarded for its superior flexibility, stability, economy, usability, and versatility in the manufacturing of advanced materials and architectures. In this review, a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in FBMM is provided, encompassing technical principles, advanced material manufacturing, and their applications. FBMM is categorized based on the foundational mechanisms, primarily comprising hydrodynamics, interface effects, acoustics, and electrohydrodynamic. The processes and mechanisms of fluid manipulation are thoroughly discussed. Additionally, the manufacturing of advanced materials in various dimensions ranging from zero-dimensional to three-dimensional, as well as their diverse applications in material science, biomedical engineering, and engineering are presented. Finally, current progress is summarized and future challenges are prospected. Overall, this review highlights the significant potential of FBMM as a powerful tool for advanced materials manufacturing and its wide-ranging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Zhu
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Tianao Chen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Fangsheng Huang
- Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Shiyu Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Pingan Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Ronald X Xu
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Ting Si
- Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
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3
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Wang J, Zhang X, Chen H, Ren H, Zhou M, Zhao Y. Engineered stem cells by emerging biomedical stratagems. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2024; 69:248-279. [PMID: 38101962 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2023.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Stem cell therapy holds immense potential as a viable treatment for a widespread range of intractable disorders. As the safety of stem cell transplantation having been demonstrated in numerous clinical trials, various kinds of stem cells are currently utilized in medical applications. Despite the achievements, the therapeutic benefits of stem cells for diseases are limited, and the data of clinical researches are unstable. To optimize tthe effectiveness of stem cells, engineering approaches have been developed to enhance their inherent abilities and impart them with new functionalities, paving the way for the next generation of stem cell therapies. This review offers a detailed analysis of engineered stem cells, including their clinical applications and potential for future development. We begin by briefly introducing the recent advances in the production of stem cells (induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)). Furthermore, we present the latest developments of engineered strategies in stem cells, including engineered methods in molecular biology and biomaterial fields, and their application in biomedical research. Finally, we summarize the current obstacles and suggest future prospects for engineered stem cells in clinical translations and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglin Wang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China; Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Zhang
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Hanxu Chen
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Haozhen Ren
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Min Zhou
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China; Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, Southeast University, Shenzhen 518038, China.
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4
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Mettler M, Dewandre A, Tumanov N, Wouters J, Septavaux J. Single crystal formation in core-shell capsules. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:12739-12742. [PMID: 37801289 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc03727d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
This work extends the scope of microfluidic-based crystallization methods by introducing solid microcapsules. Hundreds of perfectly similar microcapsules were generated per second, allowing a fast screening of crystallization conditions. XRD analyses were performed directly on encapsulated single crystals demonstrating the potential of this process for the characterization of compounds, including screening polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Mettler
- Secoya Technologies Fond des Més 4, Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium.
| | - Adrien Dewandre
- Secoya Technologies Fond des Més 4, Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium.
| | - Nikolay Tumanov
- Namur Institute of Structured Matter (NISM) Université de Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, Namur 5000, Belgium
| | - Johan Wouters
- Namur Institute of Structured Matter (NISM) Université de Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, Namur 5000, Belgium
| | - Jean Septavaux
- Secoya Technologies Fond des Més 4, Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium.
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5
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Jeyasountharan A, Giudice FD. Viscoelastic Particle Encapsulation Using a Hyaluronic Acid Solution in a T-Junction Microfluidic Device. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:563. [PMID: 36984969 PMCID: PMC10053877 DOI: 10.3390/mi14030563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The encapsulation of particles and cells in droplets is highly relevant in biomedical engineering as well as in material science. So far, however, the majority of the studies in this area have focused on the encapsulation of particles or cells suspended in Newtonian liquids. We here studied the particle encapsulation phenomenon in a T-junction microfluidic device, using a non-Newtonian viscoelastic hyaluronic acid solution in phosphate buffer saline as suspending liquid for the particles. We first studied the non-Newtonian droplet formation mechanism, finding that the data for the normalised droplet length scaled as the Newtonian ones. We then performed viscoelastic encapsulation experiments, where we exploited the fact that particles self-assembled in equally-spaced structures before approaching the encapsulation area, to then identify some experimental conditions for which the single encapsulation efficiency was larger than the stochastic limit predicted by the Poisson statistics.
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6
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Review of the role of surfactant dynamics in drop microfluidics. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 312:102844. [PMID: 36708604 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2023.102844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Surfactants are employed in microfluidic systems not just for drop stabilisation, but also to study local phenomena in industrial processes. On the scale of a single drop, these include foaming, emulsification and stability of foams and emulsions using statistically significant ensembles of bubbles or drops respectively. In addition, surfactants are often a part of a formulation in microfluidic drop reactors. In all these applications, surfactant dynamics play a crucial role and need to be accounted for. In this review, the effect of surfactant dynamics is considered on the level of standard microfluidic operations: drop formation, movement in channels and coalescence, but also on a more general level, considering the mechanisms controlling surfactant adsorption on time- and length-scales characteristic of microfluidics. Some examples of relevant calculations are provided. The advantages and challenges of the use of microfluidics to measure dynamic interfacial tension at short time-scales are discussed.
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7
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D'Avino G, Maffettone PL. Effect of wall slip on the viscoelastic particle ordering in a microfluidic channel. Electrophoresis 2022; 43:2206-2216. [PMID: 35689363 PMCID: PMC9796797 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202200117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The formation of a line of equally spaced particles at the centerline of a microchannel, referred as "particle ordering," is desired in several microfluidic applications. Recent experiments and simulations highlighted the capability of viscoelastic fluids to form a row of particles characterized by a preferential spacing. When dealing with non-Newtonian fluids in microfluidics, the adherence condition of the liquid at the channel wall may be violated and the liquid can slip over the surface, possibly affecting the ordering efficiency. In this work, we investigate the effect of wall slip on the ordering of particles suspended in a viscoelastic liquid by numerical simulations. The dynamics of a triplet of particles in an infinite cylindrical channel is first addressed by solving the fluid and particle governing equations. The relative velocities computed for the three-particle system are used to predict the dynamics of a train of particles flowing in a long microchannel. The distributions of the interparticle spacing evaluated at different slip coefficients, linear particle concentrations, and distances from the channel inlet show that wall slip slows down the self-assembly mechanism. For strong slipping surfaces, no significant change of the initial microstructure is observed at low particle concentrations, whereas strings of particles in contact form at higher concentrations. The detrimental effect of wall slip on viscoelastic ordering suggests care when designing microdevices, especially in case of hydrophobic surfaces that may enhance the slipping phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano D'Avino
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimicadei Materiali e della Produzione IndustrialeUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico IIPiazzale Tecchio 80Naples80125Italy
| | - Pier Luca Maffettone
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimicadei Materiali e della Produzione IndustrialeUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico IIPiazzale Tecchio 80Naples80125Italy
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8
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Shahrivar K, Del Giudice F. Beating Poisson stochastic particle encapsulation in flow-focusing microfluidic devices using viscoelastic liquids. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:5928-5933. [PMID: 35920163 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00935h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The encapsulation and co-encapsulation of particles in microfluidic flows is essential in applications related to single-cell analysis and material synthesis. However, the whole encapsulation process is stochastic in nature, and its efficiency is limited by the so-called Poisson limit. We here demonstrate particle encapsulation in microfluidic devices having flow-focusing geometries with efficiency up to 2-fold larger than the stochastic limit imposed by the Poisson statistics. To this aim, we exploited the recently observed phenomenon of particle train formation in viscoelastic liquids, so that particles could approach the encapsulation area with a constant frequency that was subsequently synchronised to the constant frequency of droplet formation. We also developed a simplified expression based on the experimental results that can guide optimal design of the microfluidic encapsulation system. Finally, we report the first experimental evidence of viscoelastic co-encapsulation of particles coming from different streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keshvad Shahrivar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, SA1 8EN, UK.
| | - Francesco Del Giudice
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, SA1 8EN, UK.
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9
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Weisgerber D, Hatori M, Li X, Abate AR. Polyhedral Particles with Controlled Concavity by Indentation Templating. Anal Chem 2022; 94:7475-7482. [PMID: 35578791 PMCID: PMC9161221 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Current methods for fabricating microparticles offer limited control over size and shape. Here, we demonstrate a droplet microfluidic method to form polyhedral microparticles with controlled concavity. By manipulating Laplace pressure, buoyancy, and particle rheology, we generate microparticles with diverse shapes and curvatures. Additionally, we demonstrate the particles provide increased capture efficiency when used for particle-templated emulsification. Our approach enables microparticles with enhanced chemical and biological functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel
W. Weisgerber
- Department
of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences University of California, San Francisco 1700 Fourth Street, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Makiko Hatori
- Department
of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences University of California, San Francisco 1700 Fourth Street, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Xiangpeng Li
- Department
of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences University of California, San Francisco 1700 Fourth Street, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Adam R. Abate
- Department
of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences University of California, San Francisco 1700 Fourth Street, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Chan
Zuckerberg Biohub 499
Illinois Street, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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10
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Abstract
This review focuses on experimental work on nonlinear phenomena in microfluidics, which for the most part are phenomena for which the velocity of a fluid flowing through a microfluidic channel does not scale proportionately with the pressure drop. Examples include oscillations, flow-switching behaviors, and bifurcations. These phenomena are qualitatively distinct from laminar, diffusion-limited flows that are often associated with microfluidics. We explore the nonlinear behaviors of bubbles or droplets when they travel alone or in trains through a microfluidic network or when they assemble into either one- or two-dimensional crystals. We consider the nonlinearities that can be induced by the geometry of channels, such as their curvature or the bas-relief patterning of their base. By casting posts, barriers, or membranes─situated inside channels─from stimuli-responsive or flexible materials, the shape, size, or configuration of these elements can be altered by flowing fluids, which may enable autonomous flow control. We also highlight some of the nonlinearities that arise from operating devices at intermediate Reynolds numbers or from using non-Newtonian fluids or liquid metals. We include a brief discussion of relevant practical applications, including flow gating, mixing, and particle separations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Battat
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - David A Weitz
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.,Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.,Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - George M Whitesides
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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Shinohara E, Watanabe C, Yanagisawa M. Perpendicular alignment of the phase-separated boundary in adhered polymer droplets. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:9499-9506. [PMID: 34617089 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01180d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the effect of the adhered interface on the phase separation pattern using two or three adhered droplets containing a binary solution of poly(ethylene glycol) and gelatin. Under the experimental conditions, single domains of the gelatin-rich phase exhibited partial wetting to the droplet adhered interface (DAI) and nonadhered droplet surface. In the case of isolated spherical droplets, the location of the phase separation interface (PSI) of the domains was completely random owing to spatial symmetry. In the adhered droplets, the random orientation of the PSI was observed when the PSI did not contact the DAI. On the other hand, when the PSI contacted the DAI, the PSI was aligned perpendicular to the DAI. Frequency analysis showed that whether the PSI contacts the DAI is purely stochastic. However, the PSI alignment perpendicular to the DAI increases significantly with three adhered droplets, suggesting that the probability increases with increasing DAI area ratio. We explain this perpendicular pattern by the minimization of the interfacial energy and kinetics with a change in the wetting contact angle. These findings will facilitate the research on the phase separation of polymer solutions inside nonspherical micrometric spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eriko Shinohara
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.
- Department of Applied Physics, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Naka-cho 2-24-16, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Chiho Watanabe
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Kagamiyama 1-7-1, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Miho Yanagisawa
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.
- Department of Basic Science, The University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
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12
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Shahrivar K, Del Giudice F. Controlled viscoelastic particle encapsulation in microfluidic devices. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:8068-8077. [PMID: 34525163 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00941a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The encapsulation of particles in droplets using microfluidic devices finds application across several fields ranging from biomedical engineering to materials science. The encapsulation process, however, is often affected by poor single encapsulation efficiency, quantified by the Poisson statistics, with droplets containing more than one particle or with several empty droplets. We here demonstrate that viscoelastic aqueous solutions of xanthan gum enable controlled single particle encapsulation in microfluidic devices with a single encapsulation efficiency up to 2-fold larger than the one predicted by the Poisson statistics. We achieved such a result by identifying viscoelastic xanthan gum aqueous solutions that could drive particle ordering before approaching the encapsulation area and simultaneously form uniform droplets. This is the first experimental evidence of viscoelastic encapsulation in microfluidic devices, the existing literature on the subject being focused on Newtonian suspending liquids. We first studied the process of viscoelastic droplet formation, and found that the droplet length normalised by the channel diameter scaled as predicted for Newtonian solutions. At variance with Newtonian solutions, we observed that the droplet formation mechanism became unstable above critical values of the Weissenberg number, which quantifies the elasticity of the xanthan gum solutions carrying the particles. In terms of controlled encapsulation, we discovered that the single encapsulation efficiency was larger than the Poisson values in a specific range of xanthan gum mass concentrations. Finally, we introduced an empirical formula that can help the design of controlled viscoelastic encapsulation systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keshvad Shahrivar
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Swansea University Fabian Way, Swansea, SA1 8EN, UK.
| | - Francesco Del Giudice
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Swansea University Fabian Way, Swansea, SA1 8EN, UK.
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