Fabrication of monodisperse thermosensitive microgels and gel capsules in microfluidic devices

Abstract

We use droplet-based microfluidic techniques to produce monodisperse poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel particles in the size range of 10–1000 µm. Our techniques offer exquisite control over both outer dimensions and inner morphology of the particles. We demonstrate this control by fabricating conventional microgels, microgels with embedded materials and voids, and gel microcapsules with single- and multi-phase cores. These techniques should be applicable for the synthesis of particles and capsules of a variety of chemical compositions and for the generation of higher order “supraparticles” by directed assembly of colloidal particles in droplets.