Interfacial Engineering-Free Microfluidics: Toward a Mild and Cost-Effective Strategy for Surfactant- and Demulsifier-Free Hydrogel Microsphere Fabrication
This study proposes a simple yet versatile microfluidic strategy for fabricating monodisperse alginate hydrogel microspheres using a symmetric flow-focusing device. The system integrates three key innovations: (1) Cost-effective mold fabrication: A paper-based positive master replaces conventional S...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/7/733 |
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| author | Qing Qin Yu Zhang Yubei Wei Jinnuo Lv Meiling Tian Yuanyuan Sun Wei Fang Xingjian Huang Jianglin Li Yifeng Su Xiaoliang Xiang Xing Hu Zhizhi Zhou |
| author_facet | Qing Qin Yu Zhang Yubei Wei Jinnuo Lv Meiling Tian Yuanyuan Sun Wei Fang Xingjian Huang Jianglin Li Yifeng Su Xiaoliang Xiang Xing Hu Zhizhi Zhou |
| author_sort | Qing Qin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study proposes a simple yet versatile microfluidic strategy for fabricating monodisperse alginate hydrogel microspheres using a symmetric flow-focusing device. The system integrates three key innovations: (1) Cost-effective mold fabrication: A paper-based positive master replaces conventional SU-8 photoresist, significantly simplifying device prototyping. (2) Surfactant-free droplet generation: Alginate hydrogel droplets are formed at the first flow-focusing junction without requiring interfacial stabilizers. (3) In situ solidification with coalescence suppression: Acetic acid-infused corn oil is introduced at the adjacent junction, simultaneously triggering ionic crosslinking of alginate via pH reduction while preventing droplet aggregation. Notably, the hydrogel microspheres can be efficiently harvested through oscillatory aqueous phase separation, removing post-fabrication washing steps (typically 6–8 cycles for surfactant and oil removal). This integrated approach demonstrates exceptional advantages in fabrication simplicity, process scalability, and operational robustness for high-throughput hydrogel microsphere production. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2809eedc0abb4632a27a5480299b3d35 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj-art-2809eedc0abb4632a27a5480299b3d352025-08-20T02:47:04ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2025-06-0116773310.3390/mi16070733Interfacial Engineering-Free Microfluidics: Toward a Mild and Cost-Effective Strategy for Surfactant- and Demulsifier-Free Hydrogel Microsphere FabricationQing Qin0Yu Zhang1Yubei Wei2Jinnuo Lv3Meiling Tian4Yuanyuan Sun5Wei Fang6Xingjian Huang7Jianglin Li8Yifeng Su9Xiaoliang Xiang10Xing Hu11Zhizhi Zhou12College of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaCollege of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaCollege of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaCollege of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaCollege of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaCollege of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaCollege of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaCollege of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaCollege of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaCollege of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaCollege of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaCollege of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaCollege of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418008, ChinaThis study proposes a simple yet versatile microfluidic strategy for fabricating monodisperse alginate hydrogel microspheres using a symmetric flow-focusing device. The system integrates three key innovations: (1) Cost-effective mold fabrication: A paper-based positive master replaces conventional SU-8 photoresist, significantly simplifying device prototyping. (2) Surfactant-free droplet generation: Alginate hydrogel droplets are formed at the first flow-focusing junction without requiring interfacial stabilizers. (3) In situ solidification with coalescence suppression: Acetic acid-infused corn oil is introduced at the adjacent junction, simultaneously triggering ionic crosslinking of alginate via pH reduction while preventing droplet aggregation. Notably, the hydrogel microspheres can be efficiently harvested through oscillatory aqueous phase separation, removing post-fabrication washing steps (typically 6–8 cycles for surfactant and oil removal). This integrated approach demonstrates exceptional advantages in fabrication simplicity, process scalability, and operational robustness for high-throughput hydrogel microsphere production.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/7/733hydrogel microspheremicrofluidicsdemulsifier-freesurfactant-freedroplet formationnon-lithography |
| spellingShingle | Qing Qin Yu Zhang Yubei Wei Jinnuo Lv Meiling Tian Yuanyuan Sun Wei Fang Xingjian Huang Jianglin Li Yifeng Su Xiaoliang Xiang Xing Hu Zhizhi Zhou Interfacial Engineering-Free Microfluidics: Toward a Mild and Cost-Effective Strategy for Surfactant- and Demulsifier-Free Hydrogel Microsphere Fabrication Micromachines hydrogel microsphere microfluidics demulsifier-free surfactant-free droplet formation non-lithography |
| title | Interfacial Engineering-Free Microfluidics: Toward a Mild and Cost-Effective Strategy for Surfactant- and Demulsifier-Free Hydrogel Microsphere Fabrication |
| title_full | Interfacial Engineering-Free Microfluidics: Toward a Mild and Cost-Effective Strategy for Surfactant- and Demulsifier-Free Hydrogel Microsphere Fabrication |
| title_fullStr | Interfacial Engineering-Free Microfluidics: Toward a Mild and Cost-Effective Strategy for Surfactant- and Demulsifier-Free Hydrogel Microsphere Fabrication |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interfacial Engineering-Free Microfluidics: Toward a Mild and Cost-Effective Strategy for Surfactant- and Demulsifier-Free Hydrogel Microsphere Fabrication |
| title_short | Interfacial Engineering-Free Microfluidics: Toward a Mild and Cost-Effective Strategy for Surfactant- and Demulsifier-Free Hydrogel Microsphere Fabrication |
| title_sort | interfacial engineering free microfluidics toward a mild and cost effective strategy for surfactant and demulsifier free hydrogel microsphere fabrication |
| topic | hydrogel microsphere microfluidics demulsifier-free surfactant-free droplet formation non-lithography |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/7/733 |
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