A multi-channel emulsified microsphere preparation device

Abstract

The application provides a multi-channel emulsified microsphere preparation device, which comprises an upper liquid chamber, a lower liquid chamber, a peristaltic pump, a microchannel, a partition plate and a heating unit; first, the lower liquid chamber is filled with an aqueous phase liquid; the peristaltic pump forms a pulse oil phase liquid, that is, the liquid is supplied for a period of time and then stopped for a period of time, so that a certain volume of oil phase liquid is introduced from the peristaltic pump into the upper liquid chamber and then extruded from the microchannel to the lower liquid chamber; the aqueous phase liquid is mixed with the oil phase liquid to form a liquid ball; then, the lower liquid chamber is heated by the heating unit, the solvent in the liquid ball volatilizes and solidifies, and the microsphere is formed; in this process, the microsphere is formed at a high speed, can be mass-produced, and the diameter of the microsphere depends on the liquid supply flow due to the pulse liquid supply of the peristaltic pump, so that the particle size of the microsphere is average and the quality is good.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of microspheres manufacturing, and particularly relates to a multi-channel emulsification microsphere preparation device. BACKGROUND

[0002] At present, the method for preparing microspheres widely adopts stirring emulsification method, but the microspheres prepared by the stirring emulsification method are not uniform in particle size, and the particle size range is large, so that the microspheres need to be screened after preparation to obtain the microspheres meeting the requirements, resulting in low yield of the microspheres. At present, there are also literatures and patents reporting the preparation of microspheres with uniform particle size, which are mainly obtained by microfluidic method. The main method is that the dispersed phase and the continuous phase pass through the channels (Y type, T type, etc.) of the microfluidic chip, so that the liquid droplets with uniform particle size can be obtained at the output port, and the microspheres with uniform particle size can be obtained after the solvent is volatilized. However, the production of the method is low, and the flow rate of the microfluidic chip is only 10-20 μL / min, which cannot meet the needs of industrialization. SUMMARY

[0003] In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, the present application provides a multi-channel emulsification microsphere preparation device, which greatly improves the production speed of the microspheres and the particle size of the microspheres is average.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, according to the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, a multi-channel emulsification microsphere preparation device comprises an upper liquid chamber, a lower liquid chamber, a peristaltic pump, a microchannel, a partition plate and a heating unit. One side of the upper liquid chamber is connected with the lower liquid chamber through the microchannel, and the output port of the peristaltic pump is connected to the other side of the upper liquid chamber. The lower liquid chamber is filled with an aqueous phase liquid, and the peristaltic pump is filled with an oil phase liquid. The partition plate separates the upper liquid chamber and the lower liquid chamber. The microchannel is arranged on the partition plate and penetrates the partition plate. The heating unit is arranged on the side wall of the lower liquid chamber.

[0005] The multi-channel emulsification microsphere preparation device has at least the following advantages. Firstly, the aqueous phase liquid fills the lower liquid chamber, and the peristaltic pump forms a pulse oil supply, that is, the oil phase liquid is supplied for a period of time and then stopped for a period of time. A certain volume of the oil phase liquid from the peristaltic pump enters the upper liquid chamber, and then is extruded from the microchannel to the lower liquid chamber. The aqueous phase liquid and the oil phase liquid are mixed to form a liquid ball. Finally, the lower liquid chamber is heated by the heating unit, the solvent in the liquid ball is volatilized and solidified to form a microsphere. In this process, the microspheres are formed at a fast speed and can be mass-produced. Moreover, due to the pulse oil supply of the peristaltic pump, the diameter of the microspheres depends on the oil supply flow rate, the particle size of the microspheres is average, and the quality is good.

[0006] Preferably, the diameter of the microchannel is 10 μm. The oil phase liquid small balls extruded from the microchannel adhere to the microchannel due to the viscosity of the liquid. When the weight and volume of the oil phase liquid small balls increase and exceed the limit of the viscosity, the oil phase liquid small balls sink.

[0007] Preferably, a staircase is further arranged below the lower liquid chamber, the upper part of the staircase is a slope and connected with the partition, the lower part of the staircase is a slope, the slopes of the upper and lower parts of the staircase can make the microspheres gather to the bottom, and the microspheres are convenient to collect.

[0008] Preferably, an air compressor is further arranged on the sidewall of the lower liquid chamber, the output end of the air compressor is communicated with the lower liquid chamber, the air compressor blows high-pressure air into the water-phase liquid in the lower liquid chamber, the gas blows the liquid drops to flow and disperse, and the liquid drops do not agglomerate, because if the liquid drops sink to the bottom, the agglomeration phenomenon is easy to occur when the number of the liquid drops is large.

[0009] Preferably, the heating unit keeps the temperature of the water-phase liquid in the lower liquid chamber at 50 DEG C, and the temperature of 50 DEG C is beneficial to evaporate the oil-phase liquid and form solidification.

[0010] Preferably, the water-phase liquid is composed of purified water and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

[0011] Preferably, a chamfer is arranged at the outlet of the microchannel, the outlet is an acute angle, the liquid sphere is easily pierced, the outer diameter of the liquid sphere is reduced, the chamfer increases the diameter of the outlet, and the liquid sphere is beneficial to form.

[0012] Preferably, the output of the peristaltic pump is 20 mL / min, and the microspheres with a diameter of 20-30 mu m are beneficial to form. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or the prior art description. Obviously, the drawings in the following description only show some embodiments of the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained without creative labor on the basis of these drawings.

[0014] Figure 1 It is a whole structure diagram of the present application.

[0015] Reference signs

[0016] 100, peristaltic pump; 200, upper liquid chamber; 300, partition; 310, microchannel; 311, chamfer; 400, lower liquid chamber; 410, staircase; 500, heating unit; 600, air compressor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The technical solutions of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts should fall within the scope of the present application.

[0018] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present application.

[0019] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "mounting", "connection", "connection" should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixed connection, or detachable connection, or integral connection; it can be mechanical connection, or electrical connection; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or the communication inside two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0020] Please refer to Figure 1 As shown in the drawings, a multi-channel emulsified microsphere preparation device comprises an upper liquid chamber 200, a lower liquid chamber 400, a peristaltic pump 100, a microchannel 310, a partition plate 300 and a heating unit 500; one side of the upper liquid chamber 200 is connected with the lower liquid chamber 400 through the microchannel 310, the output port of the peristaltic pump 100 is connected to the other side of the upper liquid chamber 200, the lower liquid chamber 400 is filled with an aqueous phase liquid, the peristaltic pump 100 is filled with an oil phase liquid, the partition plate 300 separates the upper liquid chamber 200 and the lower liquid chamber 400, the microchannel 310 is arranged on the partition plate 300, the microchannel 310 penetrates through the partition plate 300, and the heating unit 500 is arranged on the side wall of the lower liquid chamber 400; first, the lower liquid chamber 400 is filled with the aqueous phase liquid, the peristaltic pump 100 forms a pulse oil supply, that is, a liquid supply for a period of time, stops for a period of time, so that a certain volume of oil phase liquid enters the upper liquid chamber 200 from the peristaltic pump 100, and then is extruded to the lower liquid chamber 400 from the microchannel 310, the aqueous phase liquid and the oil phase liquid are mixed to form a liquid ball, finally, the lower liquid chamber 400 is heated by the heating unit 500, the solvent in the liquid ball volatilizes and solidifies to form a microsphere, and in this process, the microsphere is formed at a high speed, can be mass-produced, and due to the pulse liquid supply of the peristaltic pump 100, the diameter of the microsphere depends on the liquid supply flow, the particle size of the microsphere is average, and the quality is good.

[0021] It should be understood that the microsphere material has been integrated into the oil phase liquid, and the liquid ball of the oil phase liquid is heated under the action of the heating unit 500, the temperature is increased, and the oil phase liquid ball is volatilized, and the microsphere material is solidified.

[0022] It should be understood that the partition plate 300 is a heat insulation material, which avoids the temperature of the water phase liquid in the lower liquid chamber 400 being transmitted to the oil phase liquid in the upper liquid, so that the temperature of the oil phase liquid is increased to cause volatilization.

[0023] Please refer to Figure 1 As shown in the figure, as a preferred embodiment of the present application, the diameter of the microchannel 310 is 10 μm, and the oil phase liquid ball poured out of the microchannel 310 adheres to the microchannel 310 due to the viscosity of the liquid, and when the weight and volume of the oil phase liquid ball increase beyond the limit of viscosity, the oil phase liquid ball will sink.

[0024] Specifically, the diameter of the microchannel 310 can not be 10 μm, and the larger the diameter of the microsphere to be produced, the larger the diameter of the microchannel 310 needs to be, because the adhesion force generated by the viscosity of the 10 μm microchannel 310 cannot support the liquid ball of the oil phase liquid with a larger diameter, and a larger microchannel 310 needs to be selected.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 1 As shown in the figure, as a preferred embodiment of the present application, the lower liquid chamber 400 further has a step 410, the upper part of the step 410 is a slope and is connected with the partition plate 300, and the lower part of the step 410 is a slope, and the slopes of the upper and lower parts of the step 410 can make the microspheres gather to the bottom, which is convenient for collection.

[0026] It should be understood that the lower liquid chamber 400 is provided with a special outlet, and after the microspheres are volatilized and solidified, the water phase liquid and the microspheres flow out from the outlet together, and the microspheres are filtered out through the screen.

[0027] Please refer to Figure 1 As shown in the figure, as a preferred embodiment of the present application, the lower liquid chamber 400 further has an air compressor 600, and the output end of the air compressor 600 is communicated with the lower liquid chamber 400, and the air compressor 600 blows high-pressure air into the water phase liquid in the lower liquid chamber 400, and the gas blows the liquid drops to flow and disperse, and does not occur agglomeration phenomenon, because if the liquid drops sink to the bottom, the number of the liquid drops is large, and the liquid drops are easy to agglomerate and fuse with each other.

[0028] Please refer to Figure 1 As shown in the figure, as a preferred embodiment of the present application, the heating unit 500 keeps the temperature of the water phase liquid in the lower liquid chamber at 50°C, and the temperature of 50°C is beneficial to evaporate part of the oil phase liquid and form solidification.

[0029] Please refer toFigure 1 As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the water phase liquid component is purified water and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as shown.

[0030] It should be understood that polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) can form a film on the microspheres, and the boiling point is higher than that of the oil phase liquid, and it is not easy to volatilize.

[0031] It should be understood that the oil phase is mainly dichloromethane, the volatilized solvent is dichloromethane with a boiling point of 39.8 degrees, and the remaining solidified part is the selected high polymer, such as polylactic acid, polycaprolactone and other materials. As long as the oil phase solvent is the same, the optimal volatilization temperature is the same.

[0032] Please refer to Figure 1 As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the microchannel 310 outlet is provided with a chamfer 311, and the outlet is an acute angle which is easy to pierce the liquid ball, so that the outer diameter of the liquid ball is reduced, and the chamfer 311 increases the outlet diameter, which is beneficial to the formation of the liquid ball.

[0033] Specifically, the inlet of the microchannel 310 is also provided with a chamfer 311, and the chamfer 311 near the inlet of the oil phase liquid can help the oil phase liquid enter the microchannel 310, avoiding blockage at the inlet.

[0034] Please refer to Figure 1 As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the peristaltic pump 100 outputs 20mL / min, which is beneficial to the formation of 20-30μm microspheres.

[0035] Specifically, the peristaltic pump 100 can also have other output flow rates, which is determined according to the diameter and number of the microchannels 310.

[0036] It should be understood that this liquid supply speed is the average continuous liquid supply speed per minute.

[0037] In the figure, the positional relationship is only used for example description, and cannot be understood as a limitation of the patent; obviously, the above embodiments of the present application are only examples for clearly illustrating the present application, and are not a limitation of the embodiments of the present application.

[0038] For those skilled in the art, various corresponding changes and deformations can be made according to the above described technical solutions and concepts, and all of these changes and deformations should belong to the protection scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A multi-channel emulsified microsphere preparation apparatus characterized by comprising: 1) a microsphere preparation device comprising a plurality of channels, The application relates to a microspheres preparation device, which comprises an upper liquid chamber, a lower liquid chamber, a peristaltic pump, a microchannel, a partition plate and a heating unit. One side of the upper liquid chamber is connected with the lower liquid chamber through the microchannel, the output port of the peristaltic pump is connected to the other side of the upper liquid chamber, the lower liquid chamber is filled with an aqueous phase liquid, the peristaltic pump is filled with an oil phase liquid, the partition plate separates the upper liquid chamber and the lower liquid chamber, the microchannel is arranged on the partition plate and penetrates through the partition plate, and the heating unit is arranged on the side wall of the lower liquid chamber; the partition plate is made of heat insulation material; the oil phase liquid comprises dichloromethane, and the heating unit keeps the temperature of the aqueous phase liquid in the lower liquid chamber at 50 DEG C. A ladder is further arranged below the lower liquid chamber, the upper part of the ladder is a slope and is connected with the partition plate, the lower part of the ladder is a slope, and the slopes of the upper part and the lower part of the ladder enable microspheres to gather at the bottom; an air compressor is further arranged on the side wall of the lower liquid chamber, and the output end of the air compressor is communicated with the lower liquid chamber; the air compressor blows high-pressure air into the aqueous phase liquid in the lower liquid chamber, and the gas blows the liquid drops to flow and disperse without agglomeration. A chamfer is arranged at the outlet of the microchannel. First, the aqueous phase liquid fills the lower liquid chamber, the peristaltic pump forms a pulse oil supply, that is, the oil phase liquid is supplied for a period of time and then stopped for a period of time, so that a certain volume of oil phase liquid enters the upper liquid chamber from the peristaltic pump and then is extruded into the lower liquid chamber from the microchannel, the aqueous phase liquid is mixed with the oil phase liquid to form liquid balls, finally, the lower liquid chamber is heated by the heating unit, the solvent in the liquid balls volatilizes and solidifies to form microspheres, in the process, the microspheres are formed at a high speed, can be mass-produced, and due to the pulse liquid supply of the peristaltic pump, the diameter of the microspheres depends on the liquid supply flow, the microspheres have an average particle size and good quality. The diameter of the microchannel is 10 microns.

2. A multi-channel emulsified microsphere preparation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by: The composition of the aqueous phase liquid is purified water and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

3. A multi-channel emulsified microsphere preparation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by: The output of the peristaltic pump is 20 mL / min.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: ​

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