Superparamagnetic microspheres with controlled macroporosity generated in microfluidic devices.
A microfluidic approach to preparing superparamagnetic microspheres with tunable porosity is described. In this method, droplets consisting of iron oxide nanoparticles, a functional polymer and solvent are formed in a microfluidic channel. The droplets are subsequently collected in solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) where the solvent is left to diffuse out of the droplet phase. By adjusting the concentration of the SDS and the polarity of the solvent of the dispersed phase, the porosity of the microparticles is controlled from non porous to porous structure. The formation of the pores is shown to depend on the rate at which solvent diffuses out of the droplet phase and the availability of SDS to adsorb at the droplet interface.
Emerging Technologies Division, National Research Council, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada. chantal.paquet@nrc.ca
Chantal
C
Paquet
Zygmunt J
ZJ
Jakubek
Benoit
B
Simard
D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008280:Magnetics; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D008863:Microspheres; D016062:Porosity; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry
D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate