title: One-Step Microfluidic Fabrication of Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules in Aqueous Conditions for Protein Release.
abstract: We report a microfluidic approach for one-step fabrication of polyelectrolyte microcapsules in aqueous conditions. Using two immiscible aqueous polymer solutions, we generate transient water-in-water-in-water double emulsion droplets and use them as templates to fabricate polyelectrolyte microcapsules. The capsule shell is formed by the complexation of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes at the immiscible interface. We find that attractive electrostatic interactions can significantly prolong the release of charged molecules. Moreover, we demonstrate the application of these microcapsules in encapsulation and release of proteins without impairing their biological activities. Our platform should benefit a wide range of applications that require encapsulation and sustained release of molecules in aqueous environments.
authors.affiliation: John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Liyuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Li-Heng
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6806-0566
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.|Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Philipp S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Lienemann
authors.affiliation: John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.|Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rossow
authors.affiliation: John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Ingmar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Polenz
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstr, 12, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Queralt
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Vallmajo-Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstr, 12, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ehrbar
authors.affiliation: Alan G MacDiarmid Institute, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 (C, hina.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Na
authors.affiliation: John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.|Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mooney
authors.affiliation: John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA. weitz@seas.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Weitz
mesh_terms: D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000737:chemistry*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D010316:Particle Size; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D055672:Static Electricity; D019809:Streptavidin / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D014867:Water; D019809:Streptavidin; D019793:Fluorescein
keywords: aqueous two-phase systems; microcapsules; microfluidics; polyelectrolytes; protein release