Devices and methods for forming relatively monodisperse droplets

A droplet, adjacent row technology, applied in the field of devices and methods for forming relatively monodisperse droplets, capable of solving problems such as high polydispersity

Active Publication Date: 2015-11-11
PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

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Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, in arrays of thousands of fluidic devices, the fa...

Method used

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  • Devices and methods for forming relatively monodisperse droplets
  • Devices and methods for forming relatively monodisperse droplets
  • Devices and methods for forming relatively monodisperse droplets

Examples

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Embodiment 1

[0097] Microparticles are ubiquitous in everyday life; they are contained in cosmetic creams, foods, and serve as drug delivery vehicles, among other applications. Microparticles can be collected using a number of different techniques such as spray drying, homogenization, bulk emulsification or membrane filtration. However, control over the size of the particles produced by these techniques is often limited. Because the size of the particles affects their contribution to product properties, limited control over particle size limits the performance of particles produced by these techniques in many applications. In contrast, microfluidics would allow the production of essentially monodisperse particles with close control of their size and composition. Typical frequencies for particle formation in conventional microfluidic devices are 1-10 kHz. Conventional microfluidic devices can be used to produce small volume particles. For products containing particles produced by convent...

Embodiment 2

[0101] This example describes the effect of capillary number on droplet size according to one embodiment of the invention. In this example, it was found that for η 分散 / η 连续 For devices >1, droplet size is relatively dependent on capillary number below capillary number 0.04. Above 2, the droplet size was found to be relatively more dependent on device design (eg, interstitial volume).

[0102] A schematic illustration of the apparatus and droplet breakup method used in this example can be found in figure 1 . Microfluidic devices were used to produce water-in-oil (W / O) and oil-in-water (O / W) emulsions. Different devices emulsify by mixing two immiscible liquids; the dispersed phase constitutes 60-80 vol%. The continuous phase contains surfactants to prevent coalescence of the droplets. A macroemulsion is formed by mechanically agitating a solution containing two immiscible liquids, and the formed macroemulsion is injected into a microfluidic device. The microfluidic devic...

Embodiment 3

[0110] This example describes the effect of obstacle geometry on droplet breakup and size. Diamond-shaped obstacles, triangular-shaped obstacles, and obstacles with semicircular notches exhibit relatively inefficient droplet splitting, which results in a high coefficient of variation in droplet size. The inefficient droplet breakup was found to be due to poor droplet trapping by obstacles, which reduces the simultaneous squeezing and pushing of droplets to both sides of the obstacle by the incoming fluid. However, some droplet splitting still occurred. Square and circular obstacles exhibit more efficient droplet breakup compared to these shapes, which results in a lower coefficient of variation of droplet size.

[0111] Image 6 Microscopic images of water-in-oil emulsion droplets in outlets of microfluidic devices with different obstacle geometries are shown in . The shapes of the obstacles are illustrated in the inset. All devices used in these experiments were 40 micron...

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Abstract

Devices and methods for dividing droplets are generally described. In some embodiments, an article may comprise a fluidic channel comprising an array of obstructions. In certain embodiments, the arrangement of obstructions in the array may affect the flow path of fluid in the channel. For example, the array of obstructions may be used to convert a polydisperse population of droplets into a relatively monodisperse population of droplets. Passing a polydisperse population of droplets through the array may result in the division of droplets such that the population of droplets exiting the array has a narrower distribution in the characteristic dimensions of the droplets. The arrangement of obstructions in the array may allow for high-throughput production of a substantially monodisperse population of droplets in some cases. In some embodiments, the population of droplets exiting the array may be converted into particles.

Description

[0001] related application [0002] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61 / 773,604, filed March 6, 2013, entitled "Devices and Methods for Forming Relatively Mondisperse Droplets," which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. technical field [0003] Apparatus and methods for breaking up fluidic droplets are generally described. Background of the invention [0004] Manipulating fluids to form fluid streams, discontinuous fluid streams, droplets, particles, dispersions, etc. in desired configurations for purposes of fluid delivery, product manufacturing, analysis, etc. is a relatively well-studied technique. Examples of methods of producing droplets in microfluidic systems include the use of T-junctions or flow-focusing techniques. However, such techniques typically work in relatively slow laminar or "drop-off" conditions, and in some applications, faster droplet production rates are required, eg, to produce great...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B01L3/00
CPCB01L3/502746B01L3/502761B01L2200/0673B01L2300/0816B01L2300/123B01L2300/161B01L2400/0487B01L2400/086B01F33/302B01F23/41B01F25/42B01F25/44
Inventor D·A·韦茨E·阿木斯塔迪R·A·斯波尔林
Owner PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
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