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Coupling atomization, emulsification, and polymerization steps for creating gel microspheres

S. Danial Naghib, Matin Mirbaha, Kristina Logushkova, Jérôme Bibette, and Nicolas Bremond*

  • Laboratoire Colloïdes et Matériaux Divisés, CBI, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, 10 rue Vauquelin, F-75005 Paris, France

  • *Contact author: nicolas.bremond@espci.fr
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 9, 083604 – Published 15 August, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.9.083604

Abstract

Calibrated gel microspheres are used in several life-science applications, from embolization to DNA barcoding and drug delivery. Along with selecting or designing specific materials that depend on the application, various processes have been developed to produce such hydrogel particles. Here, we report a high throughput strategy that is based on the controlled fragmentation of an aqueous jet in air that results in droplets of monomer solution, their entry and collection in an oil bath, followed by polymerization of the emulsion droplets which thus turn into gel beads. Each step of the process is detailed and the operating conditions are optimized to obtain homogeneous polyacrylamide gel microspheres. The impact area of the stream of droplets at the free surface, that can be tuned with the help of an electric field, plays a major role in minimizing coalescence of droplets as well as mass transport between the dispersed phase and the continuous phase which is correlated to the sedimentation flow features of the dilute emulsion.

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Information

Phys. Rev. Fluids 9, 083604– Published 15 August, 2024
  • Received 11 March 2024
  • Accepted 24 July 2024
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