358d Controllable Microfluidic Production of Microbubbles In Water-In-Oil Emulsions and the Formation of Porous Microparticles

Jiandi Wan, Alexander Bick, Matthew Sullivan, and Howard A. Stone. School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Generation of water-encapsulated microbubbles (gas-in-water-in-oil) is reported using two different microfluidic geometries (double flow-focusing and flow-focusing followed by a T-junction). By adjusting the flow rate ratio of water to oil (Qw/Qo), we demonstrate the ability to control the number of encapsulated microbubbles in micron-size water droplets and the thickness of the water layer. Adding photopolymerizable monomers into the water phase, we are able to polymerize the aquesou droplets that encapsulate multi-microbubbles and obtain porous polymer microparticles. This flexible technology has the potential to generate porous microparticles with controlled properties.