Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/6775
Title: Online fabrication and characterization of capsule populations with a flow-focusing microfluidic system
Authors: Chu, TX
Leclerc, E
Salsac, AV
Barthes-Biesel, D
Griscom, L
Edwards-Levy, F
3rd Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2011)
Keywords: Flow-focusing microfluidic system;Capsule fabrication;Capsule characterization;Two-phase flow
Issue Date: 2011
Publisher: Brunel University
Citation: 3rd Micro and Nano Flows Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece, 22-24 August 2011
Abstract: We have designed a microfluidic system that combines a double flow-focusing setup for calibrated capsule fabrication with a microchannel for the characterization of their mechanical properties. The double flow-focusing system consists of a first Y junction to create the microdroplets and of a second Y junction to introduce the cross-linking agent allowing the membrane formation. The human serum albumin (HSA) aqueous solution for the dispersed solution, hydrophobic phase for the continuous solution and cross-linking agent solution are introduced by means of syringe pumps. A wavy channel after the second junction allows to control the reticulation time. A cylindrical microchannel then enables to deform and characterize the capsules formed. The mechanical properties of the capsule membrane are obtained by inverse analysis (Chu et al. 2011). The results show that the drop size increases with the flow rate ratio between the central and lateral channels and does not change much regardless of the flow rate of the reticulation phase. The mean shear modulus of the capsules fabricated after 23 s of reticulation is of the order of the surface tension of HSA solution with Dragoxat indicating that the reticulation time is too short to form an elastic membrane around the droplet. When the reticulation time is increased to 60 s, the membrane shear modulus is multiplied by a factor of 3 confirming that a solid membrane has formed around the drop.
Description: This paper was presented at the 3rd Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2011), which was held at the Makedonia Palace Hotel, Thessaloniki in Greece. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Italian Union of Thermofluiddynamics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Thessaly, IPEM, the Process Intensification Network, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Heat Transfer Society, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group, and the Energy Institute.
URI: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/6775
ISBN: 978-1-902316-98-7
Appears in Collections:Brunel Institute for Bioengineering (BIB)
The Brunel Collection

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