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Sugiyama E, Nanmo A, Nie X, Chang SY, Hashimoto M, Suzuki A, Kageyama T, Fukuda J. Large-Scale Preparation of Hair Follicle Germs Using a Microfluidic Device. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:998-1005. [PMID: 38193447 PMCID: PMC10865290 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Hair follicle morphogenesis during embryonic development is driven by the formation of hair follicle germs (HFGs) via interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Bioengineered HFGs are potential tissue grafts for hair regenerative medicine because they can replicate interactions and hair follicle morphogenesis after transplantation. However, a mass preparation approach for HFGs is necessary for clinical applications, given that thousands of de novo hair follicles are required to improve the appearance of a single patient with alopecia. In this study, we developed a microfluidics-based approach for the large-scale preparation of HFGs. A simple flow-focusing microfluidic device allowed collagen solutions containing epithelial and mesenchymal cells to flow and generate collagen microbeads with distinct Janus structures. During the 3 days of culture, the collagen beads contracted owing to cellular traction forces, resulting in collagen- and cell-dense HFGs. The transplantation of HFGs into nude mice resulted in highly efficient de novo hair follicle regeneration. This method provides a scalable and robust tissue graft preparation approach for hair regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Sugiyama
- Faculty
of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan
| | - Ayaka Nanmo
- Faculty
of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan
| | - Xiaolei Nie
- Pillar
of Engineering Product Development, Singapore
University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Singapore
- Digital
Manufacturing and Design (DManD) Centre, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Rd, Singapore 487372, Singapore
| | - Shu-Yung Chang
- Pillar
of Engineering Product Development, Singapore
University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Singapore
- Digital
Manufacturing and Design (DManD) Centre, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Rd, Singapore 487372, Singapore
| | - Michinao Hashimoto
- Pillar
of Engineering Product Development, Singapore
University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Singapore
- Digital
Manufacturing and Design (DManD) Centre, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Rd, Singapore 487372, Singapore
| | - Atsushi Suzuki
- Faculty
of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan
- Institute
of Advanced Sciences, Yokohama National
University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan
| | - Tatsuto Kageyama
- Faculty
of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan
- Institute
of Advanced Sciences, Yokohama National
University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan
- Kanagawa
Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, 3-2-1 Sakado Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan
| | - Junji Fukuda
- Faculty
of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan
- Institute
of Advanced Sciences, Yokohama National
University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan
- Kanagawa
Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, 3-2-1 Sakado Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan
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2
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Wu Q, Huang X, Liu R, Yang X, Xiao G, Jiang N, Weitz DA, Song Y. Multichannel Multijunction Droplet Microfluidic Device to Synthesize Hydrogel Microcapsules with Different Core-Shell Structures and Adjustable Core Positions. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:1950-1960. [PMID: 37991242 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Core-shell hydrogel microcapsules have sparked great interest due to their unique characteristics and prospective applications in the medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic fields. However, complex synthetic procedures and expensive costs have limited their practical application. Herein, we designed and prepared several multichannel and multijunctional droplet microfluidic devices based on soft lithography for the effective synthesis of core-shell hydrogel microcapsules for different purposes. Additionally, two different cross-linking processes (ultraviolet (UV) exposure and interfacial polymerization) were used to synthesize different types of core-shell structured hydrogel microcapsules. Hydrogel microcapsules with gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) as the core and polyacrylamide (PAM) as the thin shell were synthesized using UV cross-linking. Using an interfacial polymerization process, another core-shell structured microcapsule with GelMA as the core and Ca2+ cross-linked alginate with polyethylenimine (PEI) as the shell was constructed, and the core diameter and total droplet diameter were flexibly controlled by carving. Noteworthy, these hydrogel microcapsules exhibit stimuli-responsiveness and controlled release ability. Overall, a novel technique was developed to successfully synthesize various hydrogel microcapsules with core-shell microstructures. The hydrogel microcapsules possess a multilayered structure that facilitates the coassembly of cells and drugs, as well as the layered assembly of multiple drugs, to develop synergistic therapeutic regimens. These adaptable and controllable hydrogel microdroplets shall held great promise for multicell or multidrug administration as well as for high-throughput drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Wu
- Center for Modern Physics Technology, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xing Huang
- Physics Department, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Center of Integrated Manufacturing Technology and Intelligent Equipment, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Ran Liu
- Center for Modern Physics Technology, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
- Zhengzhou Tianzhao Biomedical Technology Company Ltd., Zhengzhou 451450, China
- Key Laboratory of Pulsed Power Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Xinzhu Yang
- Center for Modern Physics Technology, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
- Zhengzhou Tianzhao Biomedical Technology Company Ltd., Zhengzhou 451450, China
- Key Laboratory of Pulsed Power Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Gao Xiao
- Physics Department, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Nan Jiang
- Physics Department, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- JinFeng Laboratory, Chongqing 401329, China
| | - David A Weitz
- Physics Department, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Yujun Song
- Center for Modern Physics Technology, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
- Physics Department, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Zhengzhou Tianzhao Biomedical Technology Company Ltd., Zhengzhou 451450, China
- Key Laboratory of Pulsed Power Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
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3
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Han Y, Kim H. Fabrication of Versatile Janus Microparticles through Geometry and Surface Chemistry Control. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:13695-13704. [PMID: 37708347 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Amphiphilic Janus particles typically comprise two distinct hemispheres with spatially dispersed physicochemical properties. The anisotropic structure and physicochemical properties of Janus particles can be exploited for various applications. However, their preparation typically requires complex and sophisticated processes and expensive equipment to control the formation of different structures and chemical compositions. Herein, a simple synthetic approach for the facile fabrication of versatile Janus particles with efficient control of the Janus ratio and wettability based on particle fixation at a three-phase interface and photopolymerization is reported. Agarose gel and surfactant are used to control the surface-coated boundaries of the Janus particles through the equilibrium of a floating microparticle at the fluid interface. poly(propylene glycol) diacrylate or poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) coating on polystyrene-based microparticles allows easy control of the chemical functionality of the particle surfaces. Depending on the particle morphology and wettability, the interfacial behavior between two immiscible liquids can be adjusted, which allows the stabilization of Pickering emulsions that encapsulate independent oil droplets in water or vice versa. This facile approach has the potential to enable more efficient mass production of Janus particles and their use in various applications, such as biomedical and environmental engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujin Han
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyejeong Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Faßberg 17, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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4
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Long F, Guo Y, Zhang Z, Wang J, Ren Y, Cheng Y, Xu G. Recent Progress of Droplet Microfluidic Emulsification Based Synthesis of Functional Microparticles. GLOBAL CHALLENGES (HOBOKEN, NJ) 2023; 7:2300063. [PMID: 37745820 PMCID: PMC10517312 DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202300063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The remarkable control function over the functional material formation process enabled by droplet microfluidic emulsification approaches can lead to the efficient and one-step encapsulation of active substances in microparticles, with the microparticle characteristics well regulated. In comparison to the conventional fabrication methods, droplet microfluidic technology can not only construct microparticles with various shapes, but also provide excellent templates, which enrich and expand the application fields of microparticles. For instance, intersection with disciplines in pharmacy, life sciences, and others, modifying the structure of microspheres and appending functional materials can be completed in the preparation of microparticles. The as-prepared polymer particles have great potential in a wide range of applications for chemical analysis, heavy metal adsorption, and detection. This review systematically introduces the devices and basic principles of particle preparation using droplet microfluidic technology and discusses the research of functional microparticle formation with high monodispersity, involving a plethora of types including spherical, nonspherical, and Janus type, as well as core-shell, hole-shell, and controllable multicompartment particles. Moreover, this review paper also exhibits a critical analysis of the current status and existing challenges, and outlook of the future development in the emerging fields has been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Long
- Department of MechanicalMaterials and Manufacturing EngineeringUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaNingbo315100P. R. China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics EngineeringUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049P. R. China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing MaterialsNingbo Institute of Materials Technology and EngineeringChinese Academy of SciencesNingbo315201P. R. China
- Research Group for Fluids and Thermal EngineeringUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaNingbo315100P. R. China
- Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation InstituteNingbo315040P. R. China
| | - Yanhong Guo
- Department of MechanicalMaterials and Manufacturing EngineeringUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaNingbo315100P. R. China
- Research Group for Fluids and Thermal EngineeringUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaNingbo315100P. R. China
| | - Zhiyu Zhang
- Department of MechanicalMaterials and Manufacturing EngineeringUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaNingbo315100P. R. China
- Research Group for Fluids and Thermal EngineeringUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaNingbo315100P. R. China
- Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation InstituteNingbo315040P. R. China
| | - Jing Wang
- Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation InstituteNingbo315040P. R. China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic EngineeringUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaNingbo315100P. R. China
| | - Yong Ren
- Department of MechanicalMaterials and Manufacturing EngineeringUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaNingbo315100P. R. China
- Research Group for Fluids and Thermal EngineeringUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaNingbo315100P. R. China
- Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation InstituteNingbo315040P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Carbonaceous Wastes Processing and Process Intensification Research of Zhejiang ProvinceUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaNingbo315100P. R. China
| | - Yuchuan Cheng
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics EngineeringUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049P. R. China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing MaterialsNingbo Institute of Materials Technology and EngineeringChinese Academy of SciencesNingbo315201P. R. China
| | - Gaojie Xu
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics EngineeringUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049P. R. China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing MaterialsNingbo Institute of Materials Technology and EngineeringChinese Academy of SciencesNingbo315201P. R. China
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5
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Mu R, Bu N, Pang J, Wang L, Zhang Y. Recent Trends of Microfluidics in Food Science and Technology: Fabrications and Applications. Foods 2022; 11:3727. [PMID: 36429319 PMCID: PMC9689895 DOI: 10.3390/foods11223727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of novel materials with microstructures is now a trend in food science and technology. These microscale materials may be applied across all steps in food manufacturing, from raw materials to the final food products, as well as in the packaging, transport, and storage processes. Microfluidics is an advanced technology for controlling fluids in a microscale channel (1~100 μm), which integrates engineering, physics, chemistry, nanotechnology, etc. This technology allows unit operations to occur in devices that are closer in size to the expected structural elements. Therefore, microfluidics is considered a promising technology to develop micro/nanostructures for delivery purposes to improve the quality and safety of foods. This review concentrates on the recent developments of microfluidic systems and their novel applications in food science and technology, including microfibers/films via microfluidic spinning technology for food packaging, droplet microfluidics for food micro-/nanoemulsifications and encapsulations, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruojun Mu
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Subtropical Characteristic Fruits, Vegetables and Edible Fungi Processing (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 201106, China
| | - Nitong Bu
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jie Pang
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Subtropical Characteristic Fruits, Vegetables and Edible Fungi Processing (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 201106, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
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6
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Kim JW, Han SH, Choi YH, Hamonangan WM, Oh Y, Kim SH. Recent advances in the microfluidic production of functional microcapsules by multiple-emulsion templating. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:2259-2291. [PMID: 35608122 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00196a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Multiple-emulsion drops serve as versatile templates to design functional microcapsules due to their core-shell geometry and multiple compartments. Microfluidics has been used for the elaborate production of multiple-emulsion drops with a controlled composition, order, and dimensions, elevating the value of multiple-emulsion templates. Moreover, recent advances in the microfluidic control of the emulsification and parallelization of drop-making junctions significantly enhance the production throughput for practical use. Metastable multiple-emulsion drops are converted into stable microcapsules through the solidification of selected phases, among which solid shells are designed to function in a programmed manner. Functional microcapsules are used for the storage and release of active materials as drug carriers. Beyond their conventional uses, microcapsules can serve as microcompartments responsible for transmembrane communication, which is promising for their application in advanced microreactors, artificial cells, and microsensors. Given that post-processing provides additional control over the composition and construction of multiple-emulsion drops, they are excellent confining geometries to study the self-assembly of colloids and liquid crystals and produce miniaturized photonic devices. This review article presents the recent progress and current state of the art in the microfluidic production of multiple-emulsion drops, functionalization of solid shells, and applications of microcapsules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Won Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sang Hoon Han
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ye Hun Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Wahyu Martumpal Hamonangan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yoonjin Oh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Shin-Hyun Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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Cowell TW, Dobria A, Han HS. Simplified, Shear Induced Generation of Double Emulsions for Robust Compartmentalization during Single Genome Analysis. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:20528-20537. [PMID: 35502700 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c22692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Drop microfluidics has driven innovations for high throughput, low input analysis techniques such as single-cell RNA-seq. However, the instability of single emulsion (SE) drops occasionally causes significant merging during drop processing, limiting most applications to single-step reactions in drops. Here, we show that double emulsion (DE) drops address this critical limitation and completely prevent drop contents from mixing. DEs show excellent stability during thermal cycling. More importantly, DEs undergo rupture into the continuous phase instead of merging, preventing content mixing and eliminating unstable drops from the downstream analysis. Due to the lack of drop merging, the monodispersity of drops is maintained throughout a workflow, enabling the deterministic manipulation of drops downstream. We also developed a simple, one-layer DE drop maker compatible with simple surface treatment using a plasma cleaner. The device allows for the robust production of single-core DEs at a wide range of flow rates and better control over the shell thickness, both of which have been significant limitations of conventional two-layer devices. This approach makes the fabrication of DE devices much more accessible, facilitating its broader adoption. Finally, we show that DE droplets eliminate content mixing and maintain compartmentalization of single virus genomes during PCR-based amplification and barcoding, while SEs mixed contents due to merging. With their resistance to content mixing, DE drops have key advantages for multistep reactions in drops, which is limited in SEs due to merging and content mixing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Cowell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 505 South Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Andrew Dobria
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Hee-Sun Han
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 505 South Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Gregory Dr., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 North Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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8
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Contini C, Hu W, Elani Y. Manufacturing polymeric porous capsules. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:4409-4419. [PMID: 35298578 PMCID: PMC8981216 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc06565c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Polymeric porous capsules represent hugely promising systems that allow a size-selective through-shell material exchange with their surroundings. They have vast potential in applications ranging from drug delivery and chemical microreactors to artificial cell science and synthetic biology. Due to their porous core-shell structure, polymeric porous capsules possess an enhanced permeability that enables the exchange of small molecules while retaining larger compounds and macromolecules. The cross-capsule transfer of material is regulated by their pore size cut-off, which depends on the molecular composition and adopted fabrication method. This review outlines the main strategies for manufacturing polymeric porous capsules and provides some practical guidance for designing polymeric capsules with controlled pore size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Contini
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
- FabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, 82 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Wenyi Hu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
- FabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, 82 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
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Fabrication of Microparticles with Front-Back Asymmetric Shapes Using Anisotropic Gelation. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12091121. [PMID: 34577764 PMCID: PMC8466830 DOI: 10.3390/mi12091121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidics is a powerful tool for producing monodispersed micrometer-sized droplets with controlled sizes and shapes; thus, it has been widely applied in diverse fields from fundamental science to industries. Toward a simpler method for fabricating microparticles with front–back asymmetry in their shapes, we studied anisotropic gelation of alginate droplets, which occurs inside a flow-focusing microfluidic device. In the proposed method, sodium alginate (NaAlg) aqueous phase fused with a calcium chloride (CaCl2) emulsion dispersed in the organic phase just before the aqueous phase breaks up into the droplets. The fused droplet with a front–back asymmetric shape was generated, and the asymmetric shape was kept after geometrical confinement by a narrow microchannel was removed. The shape of the fused droplet depended on the size of prefused NaAlg aqueous phase and a CaCl2 emulsion, and the front–back asymmetry appeared in the case of the smaller emulsion size. The analysis of the velocity field inside and around the droplet revealed that the stagnation point at the tip of the aqueous phase also played an important role. The proposed mechanism will be potentially applicable as a novel fabrication technique of microparticles with asymmetric shapes.
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10
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Kitayama Y, Harada A. Interfacial Photo-Cross-Linking: Simple but Powerful Approach for Fabricating Capsule Polymer Particles with Tunable pH-Responsive Controlled Release Capability. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:10359-10375. [PMID: 33616405 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c20152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we describe capsule polymer particles with precisely controlled pH-responsive release properties prepared directly via the interfacial photo-cross-linking of spherical poly(2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-2-cinnamoylethyl methacrylate) (P(DEAEMA-CEMA)) particles. In the interfacial photo-cross-linking, photoreactive cinnamoyl groups in the polymer particles were cross-linked via [2π + 2π] cycloaddition reactions at the polymer/water interface, showing that the shell-cross-linked hollow polymer particles can be directly prepared from spherical polymer particles. The approach has fascinating advantages such as using minimal components, simplicity, and not requiring sacrificial template particles and toxic solvents. The following important observations are made: (I) encapsulated materials were stably retained in the capsule particles under neutral pH conditions; (II) encapsulated materials were released from the capsule particles under acidic pH conditions; (III) the release kinetics of encapsulated materials were controlled by the pH conditions; i.e., immediate and sustained release was achieved by varying the acidity of the aqueous media; (IV) the photoirradiation time did not significantly affect the release kinetics under different pH conditions; and (V) the pH-responsive release properties were regulated by changing the polymer composition in P(DEAEMA-CEMA). Furthermore, by exploiting the pH-responsiveness, capsule particles are successfully obtained via an all-aqueous process from spherical polymer particles. The advantages of the all-aqueous encapsulation process allowed the water-soluble biomacromolecules such as DNA and saccharides to be successfully encapsulated in the P(DEAEMA-CEMA) hollow particles. With this simple interfacial photo-cross-linking strategy, we envision the ready synthesis of sophisticated particulate materials for broad application in advanced research fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukiya Kitayama
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1, Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka 599-8531, Japan
| | - Atsushi Harada
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1, Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka 599-8531, Japan
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11
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Surfactant-Laden Janus Droplets with Tunable Morphologies and Enhanced Stability for Fabricating Lens-Shaped Polymeric Microparticles. MICROMACHINES 2020; 12:mi12010029. [PMID: 33383964 PMCID: PMC7824708 DOI: 10.3390/mi12010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Janus droplets can function as excellent templates for fabricating physically and chemically anisotropic particles. Here, we report new surfactant-laden Janus droplets with curvature controllability and enhanced stability against coalescence, suitable for fabricating shape-anisotropic polymer microparticles. Using a microfluidic flow-focusing device on a glass chip, nanoliter-sized biphasic droplets, comprising an acrylate monomer segment and a silicone-oil (SO) segment containing a surfactant, were produced in a co-flowing aqueous polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution. At equilibrium, the droplets formed a Janus geometry based on the minimization of interfacial energy, and each of the two Janus segments were uniform in size with coefficient-of-variation values below 3%. By varying the concentration of the surfactant in the SO phase, the curvature of the interface between the two lobes could be shifted among concave, planar, and convex shapes. In addition, the Janus droplets exhibited significantly improved stability against coalescence compared with previously reported Janus droplets carrying no surfactant that coalesced rapidly. Finally, via off-chip photopolymerization, concave-convex, planar-convex, and biconvex lens-shaped particles were fabricated.
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