State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China.
Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
Lab Chip. 2020 Aug 26;20(17):3104-3108. doi: 10.1039/d0lc00123f.
The ability to construct core-shell microcapsules has the potential to shift the paradigm in the development of new delivery systems for nutrients, cosmetics, and drugs. In this work, we demonstrate an application of focused surface acoustic wave (FSAW) microfluidics to produce microcapsules with a core-shell structure using one or two focused interdigital transducers (FIDTs) on the microfluidic device. Solid particles or liquid microdroplets without any special modification in multiphase laminar flow are driven by the acoustic radiation force arising from the FSAW, and cross the oil/water interface back and forth, which is not only suitable for generation of core-shell microcapsules with solid cores but also used for coating an aqueous microdroplet core with an oil shell. On this basis, more FIDTs can be added to the device to manufacture more layers of microcapsules if needed. Single-layer, two-layer, or even multi-layer microcapsules can be selectively fabricated. This work provides a promising and robust platform to construct core-shell microcapsules via FSAW microfluidics, which are suitable for a wide range of applications.
制备核壳微胶囊的能力有可能改变营养物质、化妆品和药物新传递系统的开发模式。在这项工作中，我们展示了一种基于聚焦表面声波（FSAW）微流控技术的应用，该技术使用微流控装置上的一个或两个聚焦叉指换能器（FIDT）来制备具有核壳结构的微胶囊。在多相层流中，无需对固体颗粒或液体微滴进行任何特殊改性，即可通过 FSAW 产生的声辐射力驱动它们来回穿过油/水界面，这不仅适用于生成具有固体核的核壳微胶囊，也适用于用油壳包裹水微滴核。在此基础上，如果需要，还可以在装置上添加更多的 FIDT 来制造更多层的微胶囊。可以有选择地制备单层、双层甚至多层微胶囊。这项工作提供了一个有前途且强大的平台，通过 FSAW 微流控技术构建核壳微胶囊，适用于广泛的应用。
