Fabrication and characterization of core–shell microparticles containing an aqueous core

Abstract

Core–shell microparticles containing an aqueous core have demonstrated their value for microencapsulation and drug delivery systems. The most important step in generating these uniquely structured microparticles is the formation of droplets and double emulsion. The droplet generator must meet the performance and reliability requirements, including accurate size control with tunability and monodispersity. Herein, we present a facile technique to generate surfactant-free core–shell droplets with an aqueous core in a microfluidic device. We demonstrate that the geometry of the core–shell droplets can be precisely adjusted by the flow rates of the droplet components. As the shell is polymerized after the formation of the core–shell droplets, the resulting solid microparticles ensure the encapsulation of the aqueous core and prevent undesired release. We then study experimentally and theoretically the behaviour of resultant microparticles under heating and compression. The microparticles demonstrate excellent stability under both thermal and mechanical loads. We show that the rupture force can be quantitatively predicted from the shell thickness relative to the outer shell radius. Experimental results and theoretical predictions confirm that the rupture force scales directly with the shell thickness.

Graphical abstract