High-flux micro-capsule embedded microfluidic equipment

Abstract

The utility model discloses high-flux micro-capsule embedded micro-fluidic equipment which comprises a high-flux micro-fluidic device, a raw material liquid storage tank, a pressure pump, a check valve, a microsphere filter, a microsphere storage tank and a solution storage tank, the high-flux microfluidic device comprises a raw material inlet, a raw material storage inner cavity, a solution inlet, a jet pipe, a micro-capsule, a solution outlet, a jet solution storage inner cavity and a raw material micropore outlet; the raw material liquid storage tank comprises a liquid storage tank body, is provided with an air filter, is connected with the pressure pump through a pipeline and is connected with the raw material inlet, and a check valve is arranged in the middle; the solution storage tank comprises a solution storage tank body, is provided with an air filter, is connected with the pressure pump through a pipeline, and is connected with the solution inlet; the front end of the microsphere filter is connected with the micro-capsule and solution outlet, and the rear end of the microsphere filter is respectively connected with the microsphere storage tank and the solution storage tank. Through the modular design, the micro-capsule preparation device is convenient to disassemble, assemble, unblock and sterilize, the number of channels is expanded in an array mode, and the micro-capsule preparation efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of microfluidic technology, in particular to a microfluidic device for preparing microcapsule embedding on a large scale. Background Art

[0002] Microencapsulation refers to the preparation technology of tiny particles that use film-forming materials to wrap the core material to form a protective, slow-release or sealed capsule. Microencapsulation can increase the stability of the core material, reduce the diffusion of the core material, reduce the toxicity of the core material and achieve controlled release of the core material. It has been widely used in the fields of biology, medicine, and chemical industry. It is important to encapsulate and protect cells, such as probiotics, to increase their tolerance to acid-base environments and thus increase their biological activity. The microcapsules prepared by droplet microfluidics have good monodispersity, controllable structure, high encapsulation rate and high bioavailability, but there are also bottlenecks in large-scale and high-efficiency preparation and production, which is the reason why microfluidic microencapsulation technology cannot be promoted and applied in the production of probiotics that require high encapsulation efficiency. Therefore, improving the flux of microcapsules prepared by microfluidics is a problem that needs to be solved in industrial production. At the same time, due to the small size of the channels of microfluidic chips, they are most likely to be blocked during use, and the problem of difficulty in clearing after blockage is also a problem to be solved in the process of industrial application. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of the above situation, in order to overcome the current technical defects, the utility model provides a microfluidic system which is easy to disassemble and assemble, can prevent clogging, is easy to clean and sterilize, and can prepare microcapsule embedding with high throughput and high efficiency.

[0004] The technical scheme adopted by the utility model is as follows: the high-throughput microcapsule-embedded microfluidic device provided by the scheme comprises a high-throughput microfluidic device, a raw material storage tank, a pressure pump, a check valve, a microsphere filter, a microsphere storage tank, a solution storage tank, etc. The high-throughput microfluidic device comprises a raw material inlet, a raw material storage cavity, a solution inlet, a jet tube, a microcapsule and a solution outlet, a jet solution storage cavity and a raw material microporous outlet; the high-throughput microfluidic device comprises a parallel unit composed of a plurality of raw material inlets, a solution inlet and a jet tube; the high-throughput microfluidic device has a raw material storage cavity in the upper part and a jet solution storage cavity in the lower part, the raw material storage cavity has a raw material inlet at the upper end and a plurality of raw material microporous outlets of vertebral structures at the lower end, the jet solution storage cavity has a jet tube channel at the upper end and a microcapsule and a solution outlet at the lower end, A cavity is present at the junction of the raw material storage cavity and the solution storage cavity, and the cavity is provided with a solution inlet. The upper part is connected to the raw material storage cavity through the raw material microporous outlet, and the lower part is connected to the jet solution storage cavity through the jet tube. The lower end of the raw material microporous outlet and the upper end of the jet tube form a cone structure, and the raw material microporous outlet, the solution inlet and the jet tube are on the same axis; the raw material liquid storage tank includes a liquid storage tank body and an air filter, which is connected to the pressure pump through a pipeline and is connected to the raw material inlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device, with a check valve in the middle; the solution storage tank includes a liquid storage tank body and an air filter, which is connected to the pressure pump through a pipeline and is connected to the solution inlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device; the front end of the microsphere filter is connected to the microcapsule and solution outlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device, and the rear end is respectively connected to the microsphere storage tank and the solution storage tank.

[0005] Further, the diameter of the micropore outlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device is 0.2 mm-2 mm;

[0006] Further, the diameter of the fluidic tube of the high-throughput microfluidic device is 1.2-2.5 times the diameter of the micropore outlet;

[0007] Furthermore, the distance between the bottom opening of the micropore outlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device and the bottom of the tapered opening at the upper end of the jet tube of the jet solution storage cavity is -5mm-5mm;

[0008] Further, the raw material inlet pressure of the high-throughput microfluidic device is 0.05Mpa-5Mpa;

[0009] Further, the pressure at the solution inlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device is 0.05Mpa-5Mpa;

[0010] Further, the raw material inlet pressure of the high-throughput microfluidic device is greater than the solution inlet pressure, but not more than 2 times;

[0011] Further, the pressure of the solution inlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device is greater than the pressure of the jet solution storage cavity;

[0012] Further, the raw material storage cavity in the high-throughput microfluidic device has a jet solution storage cavity at the lower portion which can be opened;

[0013] Furthermore, in the high-throughput microfluidic device, the micropore outlet connected to the inner cavity and the fluidic tube connected to the inner cavity can be separated;

[0014] Furthermore, the microsphere filter has a built-in filter membrane capable of filtering out microspheres with a diameter of 1 μm or more.

[0015] The beneficial effects achieved by the utility model using the above structure are as follows: the utility model is a high-throughput microfluidic device for preparing microcapsules, which has the advantages that the device can realize industrial and large-scale preparation of microcapsules using microfluidic technology; the high-throughput microfluidic device improves microfluidics in a high-throughput, three-dimensional and modular manner, and includes a raw material inlet, a raw material storage cavity, a solution inlet, a jet tube, a microcapsule and a solution outlet, a jet solution storage cavity and a raw material micropore outlet, which can be easily disassembled and installed, solving the problem of blockage and convenient clearing; since the high-throughput microfluidic devices are all made of stainless steel, the components can be disassembled, making each module simple and convenient to prepare, and can be standardized and manufactured on a large scale, and can withstand high temperatures, which is convenient for multiple high-temperature sterilization uses; the high-throughput microfluidic device in the utility model device can also expand the number of channels in an array as needed to form a single module with a larger throughput, or multiple devices can be used in parallel to further increase the efficiency of microcapsule preparation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the embodiments of the present invention, they are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute a limitation of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall components of the microfluidic device for high-throughput microcapsule embedding of the utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional view of a channel of a high-throughput microfluidic device in a high-throughput microcapsule-embedded microfluidic device of the utility model;

[0019] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view of a channel of a high-throughput microfluidic device in a high-throughput microcapsule-embedded microfluidic device of the utility model;

[0020] Figure 4 This is an embedding effect diagram of the microfluidic device with high-throughput microcapsule embedding of the utility model.

[0021] Among them, A, high-throughput microfluidic device, 1, raw material M1 inlet, 2, raw material M1 storage cavity, 3, solution N1 inlet, 4, jet tube, 5, microcapsule and solution N1 outlet, 6, jet solution storage cavity, 7, raw material M1 microporous outlet, 10, raw material M1 liquid storage tank, 11, air filter, 12, pressure pump, 13, check valve, 14, microsphere filter, 15, microsphere storage tank, 16, pipeline, 17, solution N1 storage tank, 19, pipeline, 21, pressure pump, 22, check valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the utility model will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the utility model, rather than all of the embodiments; based on the embodiments of the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0023] It should be noted that the words "front", "rear", "left", "right", "up" and "down" used in the following description refer to directions in the drawings, and the words "inside" and "outside" refer to directions toward or away from the geometric center of a specific component, respectively.

[0024] like Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, the technical solution adopted by the utility model is as follows: the high-throughput microcapsule-encapsulated microfluidic system provided by the present solution comprises a high-throughput microfluidic device A, a raw material M1 liquid storage tank 10, a pressure pump 12, a check valve 13, a microsphere filter 14, a microsphere storage tank 15, a solution N1 storage tank 17, a pressure pump 21 and a check valve 22, and are connected by a pipeline 16.

[0025] The high-throughput microfluidic device A comprises a raw material M1 inlet 1, a raw material M1 storage cavity 2, a solution N1 inlet 3, a jet tube 4, a microcapsule and solution N1 outlet 5, a jet solution storage cavity 6, and a raw material M1 micropore outlet 7;

[0026] The raw material M1 liquid storage tank 10 comprises a liquid storage tank body and an air filter 11;

[0027] The microsphere storage tank 15 comprises a storage tank body and an air filter 11;

[0028] The solution N1 storage tank 17 comprises a storage tank body and an air filter 11;

[0029] The raw material M1 storage tank 10 is connected to the pressure pump 12 through a pipeline. The raw material M1 is transported to the raw material M1 inlet 1 through the pipeline by the pressure pump 12 at a certain pressure. A check valve 13 is arranged in the middle of the pipeline connecting the pressure pump 12 and the raw material M1 inlet 1 to prevent the raw material from flowing back. The raw material M1 is the core material to be embedded;

[0030] In the above technical solution, the diameter of the micropore outlet 7 is 0.2-2 mm;

[0031] In the above technical solution, the diameter of the jet tube 4 is 1.2-2.5 times the diameter of the micropore outlet 7, preferably 2 times;

[0032] In the above technical solution, the inlet pressure of the raw material M1 is 0.05Mpa-5Mpa according to the viscosity of the raw material M1;

[0033] In the above technical solution, the pressure of the solution N1 inlet 3 is 0.05Mpa-5Mpa;

[0034] In the above technical solution, the distance between the bottom opening of the microporous outlet 7 in the device A and the bottom of the tapered opening at the upper end of the jet tube 4 of the jet solution storage cavity 6 is -5mm-5mm;

[0035] In the above technical solution, the inlet pressure of the raw material M1 is greater than the pressure of the inlet 3 of the solution N1, but not more than 2 times;

[0036] In the above technical solution, the pressure of the solution N1 inlet 3 is greater than the pressure of the jet solution storage cavity 6;

[0037] In the above technical solution, the number of microporous outlets 7 and corresponding jet tubes 4 in the device A can be expanded as needed to increase the overall microcapsule preparation throughput;

[0038] In the above technical solution, the inner chamber 2 and the inner chamber 6 in the device A can be opened for easy cleaning;

[0039] In the above technical solution, the microporous outlet 7 connected to the inner cavity 2 and the jet tube 4 connected to the inner cavity 6 can be separated to facilitate internal cleaning;

[0040] In the above technical solution, each module of the device A is made of 304 stainless steel, which is convenient for sterilization;

[0041] When used specifically, a raw material M1 is prepared, and the raw material M1 is a mixture of sodium alginate and an embedded object. The embedded object can be cells, bacteria, enzyme preparations or other components that need to be embedded and protected. The ratio of sodium alginate to the embedded object is 1:1 to 3:1; the solution N1 in the storage tank 17 is input to the high-throughput microfluidic device A through a pressure pump 21 through a pipeline to the solution N1 inlet 3, and the solution N1 is a calcium chloride solution or other microfluidic medium solution; the solution N1 is pressurized and flows into the jet solution storage cavity 6 through the jet tube 4. At the same time, the raw material M1 is pressurized in the cavity 2 through the hole outlet 7 to the jet tube 4 in the solution N 1 forms a jet, and the formed microsphere W1 enters the jet solution storage cavity 6; the solution N1-microsphere W1 formed in the jet solution storage cavity 6 enters the microsphere filter 14 through the pipeline, and the filtered microspheres enter the microsphere storage tank 15, and the solution N1 flows into the storage tank 17; the solution is a calcium chloride solution; when the embedding system is blocked, the inner cavity 2 or the inner cavity 6 can be opened for clearing, or after being soaked in a strong alkali, high-pressure air can enter from the feed port to clear the channel blockage problem. The sterilization during use can be carried out by conventional 121°C steam sterilization for 30 minutes, and then put into a 50°C oven for drying before it can be used again.

[0042] Embodiment 1:

[0043] refer to Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, when encapsulating living cells such as probiotics, the preparation of raw material M1 is to prepare 50 grams of Lactobacillus gasseri Mia freeze-dried powder (8.0×10 10 CFU / g) was dissolved in 2L of physiological saline to form a bacterial suspension, 2% sodium alginate was added to fully dissolve it to form a gel solution, and 0.5Mpa pressure was injected into the raw material inlet, and 2% calcium chloride solution was injected into the solution inlet at a pressure of 0.55Mpa. The micropore outlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device was a 2×4 array, the micropore outlet diameter was 2mm, the jet tube diameter was 3mm, and the distance between the bottom opening of the micropore outlet and the bottom of the cone mouth at the upper end of the jet tube was -1mm. After 45 minutes, the embedding was completed, and the formed microspheres were as follows Figure 4 As shown in the figure, it can be seen that after embedding, the diameter of the spheres is small and the embedding efficiency is high, which can meet the embedding requirements of microorganisms, enzyme preparations, etc.

[0044] It should be noted that, in this article, relational terms such as first and second, etc. are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprises" or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, material or apparatus including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, material or apparatus.

[0045] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A high-throughput microencapsulation microfluidic device, characterized in that: A high-throughput microcapsule-embedded microfluidic device comprises a high-throughput microfluidic device, a raw material storage tank, a pressure pump, a check valve, a microsphere filter, a microsphere storage tank, and a solution storage tank. The high-throughput microfluidic device comprises a raw material inlet, a raw material storage inner cavity, a solution inlet, a jet tube, a microcapsule and a solution outlet, a jet solution storage inner cavity and a raw material microporous outlet; the high-throughput microfluidic device comprises a parallel unit consisting of a plurality of raw material inlets, a solution inlet and a jet tube; the high-throughput microfluidic device has a raw material storage inner cavity at the upper part, a jet solution storage inner cavity at the lower part, a raw material inlet at the upper end of the raw material storage inner cavity, and a plurality of raw material microporous outlets of vertebral structures at the lower end, a jet tube channel at the upper end of the jet solution storage inner cavity, a microcapsule and a solution outlet at the lower end, and a raw material storage inner cavity and a solution storage inner cavity are connected. The inner cavity connection presents a cavity, the cavity is provided with a solution inlet, the upper part is connected to the raw material storage inner cavity through the raw material microporous outlet, and the lower part is connected to the jet solution storage inner cavity through the jet tube, the lower end of the raw material microporous outlet and the upper end of the jet tube form a cone structure, the raw material microporous outlet, the solution inlet and the jet tube are on the same axis; the raw material liquid storage tank comprises a liquid storage tank body and an air filter, which is connected to the pressure pump through a pipeline and is connected to the raw material inlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device, with a check valve in the middle; the solution storage tank comprises a liquid storage tank body and an air filter, which is connected to the pressure pump through a pipeline and is connected to the solution inlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device; the front end of the microsphere filter is connected to the microcapsule and solution outlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device, and the rear end is respectively connected to the microsphere storage tank and the solution storage tank.

2. A high-throughput microencapsulation microfluidic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the micropore outlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device is 0.2 mm-2 mm.

3. A high-throughput microencapsulated microfluidic device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The diameter of the fluidic tube of the high-throughput microfluidic device is 1.2-2.5 times the diameter of the micropore outlet.

4. A high-throughput microencapsulated microfluidic device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The distance between the bottom opening of the micropore outlet of the high-throughput microfluidic device and the bottom of the tapered opening at the upper end of the jet tube of the jet solution storage cavity is -5mm-5mm.

5. A high-throughput microencapsulation microfluidic device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The raw material inlet pressure of the high-throughput microfluidic device is 0.05Mpa-5Mpa, and the solution inlet pressure is 0.05Mpa-5Mpa.

6. A high-throughput microencapsulation microfluidic device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The raw material storage cavity in the high-throughput microfluidic device has an openable jet solution storage cavity at the lower part.

7. A high-throughput microencapsulation microfluidic device according to claim 3, characterized in that: In the high-throughput microfluidic device, the micropore outlet connected to the inner cavity and the jet tube connected to the inner cavity can be separated.

8. A high-throughput microencapsulation microfluidic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microsphere filter is built with a filter membrane capable of filtering out microspheres with a diameter of more than 1 μm.

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