title: Microfluidic synthesis of tail-shaped alginate microparticles using slow sedimentation.
abstract: This study reports the synthesis of tail-shaped alginate particles using a microfluidic platform combined with a sedimentation strategy. By utilizing microfluidic emulsification in the cross-junction channel, the formation of regular droplets was achieved. Following a facile and convenient sedimentation process and an ionic crosslinking process, sodium-alginate droplets became tail-shaped and then gradually developed into calcium-alginate microparticles. The effects of the concentration of the CaCl(2)  crosslinker and the viscosity of the alginate solution on the shape and/or size of the particles were further investigated. The proposed synthesis methodology has the advantages of actively controlling the tail-shape formation, having a narrow size distribution, as well as being a facile and convenient process with a high throughput. This approach can be applied to many applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical arena.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Cosmetology and Master Program of Cosmetic Science, Hungkuang University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chih-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yi-Yao
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chen-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000379:methods*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D000667:Ampicillin; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D002122:Calcium Chloride