Flow Focusing: a versatile technology to produce size-controlled and specific-morphology microparticles

Small. 2005 Jul;1(7):688-92. doi: 10.1002/smll.200500087.

Abstract

The Flow Focusing platform is especially advantageous for micro- and nanoparticle production. This versatile technique is amenable to designing the size, surface treatment and internal topology of the particles; mechanical stresses are minimal-an optimal feature for the manipulation of delicate substances. Multiplexing and high-rate production are readily implemented. Adaptive operational design can lead, in one single step, to finely tuned microcapsules encasing different products within a targeted morphology. This achievement is of great significance for most microcapsule applications in the biosciences (for example, drug delivery, cell encapsulation, and the production of bead arrays).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Drug Carriers
  • Drug Compounding
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Fluorescent Dyes / pharmacology
  • Lactic Acid / chemistry
  • Microfluidics*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microspheres
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanotechnology / economics
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Particle Size
  • Polyglycolic Acid / chemistry
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry
  • Solvents

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Polymers
  • Polystyrenes
  • Solvents
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Lactic Acid