Microfluidic assembly of homogeneous and Janus colloid-filled hydrogel granules.
The microfluidic assembly of colloid-filled hydrogel granules of varying shape and composition is described. First, drops are formed by shearing a concentrated colloidal microsphere-acrylamide suspension in a continuous oil phase using a sheath-flow device. Both homogeneous and Janus (hemispherically distinct) spheres and disks are produced by confining the assembled drops in microchannels of varying geometry. Next, photopolymerization is carried out shortly after drop breakup to preserve their morphology. Representative wet and dried granules are characterized using fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Our approach offers a facile route for assembling colloid-filled hydrogel granules with controlled shape and composition.
Shepherd
Robert F
RF
Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Conrad
Jacinta C
JC
Rhodes
Summer K
SK
Link
Darren R
DR
Marquez
Manuel
M
Weitz
David A
DA
Lewis
Jennifer A
JA
D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
D003102:Colloids; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate