A microfluidic approach to fabricate monodisperse hollow or porous poly(HEMA-MMA) microspheres using single emulsions as templates.
We have successfully developed a novel and simple method to controllably prepare monodisperse poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-methyl methacrylate) (poly(HEMA-MMA)) microspheres with two distinct structures using single emulsions as templates. By employing a microfluidic emulsification approach to fabricate monomer-contained oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions as templates, and introducing proper initiators and different types of porogens, poly(HEMA-MMA) microspheres with hollow or porous structure are prepared in a controllable way. The shell thickness of hollow microspheres or the porosity of porous microspheres is controllably achieved by simply adjusting the porogen concentration. The prepared poly(HEMA-MMA) microspheres with controllable hollow or porous structures are favored for various potential applications. Furthermore, by using the simple preparation methodology proposed in this study, fabrication of monodisperse porous microspheres or hollow microcapsules with other materials can also be easily achieved.
School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
Hao
H
Zhang
Xiao-Jie
XJ
Ju
Rui
R
Xie
Chang-Jing
CJ
Cheng
Ping-Wei
PW
Ren
Liang-Yin
LY
Chu