title: CdS QDs-chitosan microcapsules with stimuli-responsive property generated by gas-liquid microfluidic technique.
abstract: This article describes a straightforward gas-liquid microfluidic approach to generate uniform-sized chitosan microcapsules containing CdS quantum dots (QDs). CdS QDs are encapsulated into the liquid-core of the microcapsules. The sizes of the microcapsules can be conveniently controlled by gas flow rate. QDs-chitosan microcapsules show good fluorescent stability in water, and exhibit fluorescent responses to chemical environmental stimuli. α-Cyclodextrin (α-CD) causes the microcapsules to deform and even collapse. More interestingly, α-CD induces obvious changes on the fluorescent color of the microcapsules. However, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) has little influence on the shape and fluorescent color of the microcapsules. Based on the results of scanning electron microscopy, the possible mechanism about the effects of α-CD on the chitosan microcapsules is analyzed. These stimuli-responsive microcapsules are low-cost and easy to be prepared by gas-liquid microfluidic technique, and can be applied as a potential micro-detector to chemicals, such as CDs.
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address: yanjunchen@whut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Rongyi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address: yifengwang@whut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yifeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Biomaterial and Engineering Research Center, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Chaocan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D005453:Fluorescence; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D044367:Phase Transition; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water; D047391:alpha-Cyclodextrins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D002214:Capsules; D012996:Solutions; D013440:Sulfides; D047391:alpha-Cyclodextrins; C034939:cadmium sulfide; D014867:Water; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Chitosan; Gas–liquid microfluidic technique; Microcapsules; Quantum dots; Stimuli-responsiveness