Issue 6, 2019

Microfluidics for silica biomaterials synthesis: opportunities and challenges

Abstract

The rational design and controllable synthesis of silica nanomaterials bearing unique physicochemical properties is becoming increasingly important for a variety of biomedical applications from imaging to drug delivery. Microfluidics has recently emerged as a promising platform for nanomaterial synthesis, providing precise control over particle size, shape, porosity, and structure compared to conventional batch synthesis approaches. This review summarizes microfluidics approaches for the synthesis of silica materials as well as the design, fabrication and the emerging roles in the development of new classes of functional biomaterials. We highlight the unprecedented opportunities of using microreactors in biomaterial synthesis, and assess the recent progress of continuous and discrete microreactors and the associated biomedical applications of silica materials. Finally, we discuss the challenges arising from the intrinsic properties of microfluidics reactors for inspiring future research in this field.

Graphical abstract: Microfluidics for silica biomaterials synthesis: opportunities and challenges

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
13 Feb 2019
Accepted
12 Mar 2019
First published
13 Mar 2019

Biomater. Sci., 2019,7, 2218-2240

Author version available

Microfluidics for silica biomaterials synthesis: opportunities and challenges

N. Hao, Y. Nie and J. X. J. Zhang, Biomater. Sci., 2019, 7, 2218 DOI: 10.1039/C9BM00238C

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