title: Microfluidic-assisted synthesis of hemispherical and discoidal chitosan microparticles at an oil/water interface.
abstract: This study reports a facile method for the synthesis of hemispherical and discoidal chitosan microparticles by a combination of microfluidic technology and gelation strategy at an oil/water interface. Utilizing microfluidic emulsification in a cross-junction channel, the formation of regular droplets was achieved. Following the ionic gelation procedure at the liquid-liquid interface of the gelling solution and oil solution in the reservoir pool, either hemispherical or discoidal chitosan microparticles were obtained. Special emphasis was put on the interface reaction of emulsion gelation parameters such as ionic crosslinkers, density modifiers, and surfactants, to tailor the morphologies of chitosan particles ranging from 160 to 750 μm. In addition, the proposed microfluidic device is capable of generating relatively uniform microparticles with a well-controllable shape and size. Being a simple, low-cost and high-throughput process is an added advantage. The synthesized hemispherical and discoidal chitosan microparticles can be applied to many applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical arena.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, I-Shou University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Keng-Shiang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chih-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi-Yao
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Fang-Rong
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yung-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D048271:Chitosan / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004867:Equipment Design; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000737:chemistry; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D014783:Viscosity; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D004655:Emulsions; D010938:Plant Oils; D011122:Polyphosphates; D011136:Polysorbates; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D014867:Water; D000667:Ampicillin; D048271:Chitosan; C005692:triphosphoric acid; D005990:Glycerol