title: Microfluidic fabrication of perfluorohexane-shelled double emulsions for controlled loading and acoustic-triggered release of hydrophilic agents.
abstract: The ability of low boiling point liquid perfluorocarbons (PFCs) to undergo a phase change from a liquid to a gas upon ultrasound irradiation makes PFC-based emulsions promising vehicles for triggered delivery of payloads. However, loading hydrophilic agents into PFC-based emulsions is difficult due to their insolubility in PFC. Here, we address this challenge by taking advantage of microfluidic technologies to fabricate double emulsions consisting of large aqueous cores and a perfluorohexane (PFH) shell, thus yielding high loading capacities for hydrophilic agents. Using this technology, we efficiently encapsulate a model hydrophilic agent within the emulsions and study its response to ultrasound irradiation. Using a combination of optical and acoustic imaging methods, we observe payload release upon acoustic vaporization of PFH. Our work demonstrates the utility of microfluidic techniques for controllably loading hydrophilic agents into PFH-based emulsions, which have great potential for acoustically triggered release.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Department of Physics, Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
authors.forename: Wynter J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Duncanson
authors.forename: Laura R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Arriaga
authors.forename: W Lloyd
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Ung
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kopechek
authors.forename: Tyrone M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Weitz
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D013016:Sound
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C078626:perflexane