Abstract
The millimeter-scale capsules with controllable morphology, ultra-low permeability and excellent mechanical stability were fabricated by millifluidics. Viscosity of inner phase was adjusted to control the morphology and properties of the capsules. In detail, as the concentration of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) increased from 0 to 8% in the inner phase of the capsules, the diameter of capsules decreased from 3.33 ± 0.01 mm to 2.97 ± 0.01 mm, the shell thickness of capsules decreased from 0.183 ± 0.004 mm to 0.155 ± 0.003 mm. While the capsules had round shape and high sphericity. Notably, the capsules with 2% PVA in the inner phase had remarkably decreased water permeability and good morphological stability. Specifically, the end-time of water losing of the capsules was up to 49 days, while the dehydrated capsules maintained spherical appearance, and crushing force of the capsules was up to 13.73 ± 0.79 N, which ensured stability during processing and transportation. This research provides a new strategy for stable encapsulation of small molecules.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wang SM, Dong SX, Shen H, et al. Preparation of Monodisperse S/W/O Compound Droplets with Thick Liquid Film Via a Dual-Cross Microfluidic Device[J]. Colloids Surf. A Physicochem. Eng. Asp., 2021, 620: 126 413
Pan DW, Chen Q, Zhang YJ, et al. Investigation on Millimeter-Scale W1/O/W2 Compound Droplets Generation in a Co-Flowing Device with One-Step Structure[J]. J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 2020, 84: 366–374
Piornos JA, Burgos-Díaz C, Morales E, et al. Highly Efficient Encapsulation of Linseed Oil into Alginate/Lupin Protein Beads: Optimization of the Emulsion Formulation[J]. Food Hydrocoll., 2017, 63: 139–148
Saczek J, Yao XX, Zivkovic V, et al. Long-Lived Liquid Marbles for Green Applications[J]. Adv. Funct. Mater., 2021, 31(35): 2 011 198
Blandino A, MacíAs M, Cantero D. Glucose Oxidase Release from Calcium Alginate Gel Capsules[J]. Enzyme Microb. Technol., 2000, 27(3–5): 319–324
Wang JY, Jin Y, Xie R, et al. Novel Calcium-Alginate Capsules with Aqueous Core and Thermo-Responsive Membrane[J]. J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2011, 353(1): 61–68
Nativel F, Renard D, Hached F, et al. Application of Millifluidics to Encapsulate and Support Viable Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Polysaccharide Hydrogel[J]. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2018, 19(7): 1 952
Friedrich T, Douek AM, Vandestadt C, et al. A Modular Millifluidic Homeostatic Imaging Plate for Imaging of Larval Zebrafish[J]. Zebrafish, 2019, 16(1): 37–46
Gabbott C, Mele E, Sun T. Cell Marbles: A Novel Cell Encapsulation Technology by Wrapping Cell Suspension Droplets Using Electrospun Nanofibers for Developmental Engineering[J]. J. Biotechnol., 2020, 323: 82–91
Yang SC, Ge HX, Hu Y, et al. Doxorubicin-Loaded Poly(Butylcyanoacrylate) Nanoparticles Produced by Emulsifier-Free Emulsion Polymerization[J]. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2000, 78(3): 517–526
Yang ZM, Peng Z, Li JH, et al. Development and Evaluation of Novel Flavour Microcapsules Containing Vanilla Oil Using Complex Coacervation Approach[J]. Food Chem., 2014, 145: 272–277
Ekanem EE, Wilson A, Scott JL, et al. Continuous Rotary Membrane Emulsification for the Production of Sustainable Pickering Emulsions[J]. Chem. Eng. Sci., 2022, 249: 117 328
Tonon RV, Grosso CRF, Hubinger MD. Influence of Emulsion Composition and Inlet Air Temperature on the Microencapsulation of Flaxseed Oil by Spray Drying[J]. Food Res. Int., 2011, 44(1): 282–289
Tucker-Schwartz AK, Bei ZM, Garrell RL, et al. Polymerization of Electric Field-Centered Double Emulsion Droplets to Create Polyacrylate Shells[J]. Langmuir, 2010, 26(24): 18 606–18 611
Shao T, Feng XL, Jin Y, et al. Controlled Production of Double Emulsions in Dual-Coaxial Capillaries Device for Millimeter-Scale Hollow Polymer Spheres[J]. Chem. Eng. Sci., 2013, 104: 55–63
Wischnewski C, Zwar E, Rehage H, et al. Strong Deformation of Ferrofluid-Filled Elastic Alginate Capsules in Inhomogenous Magnetic Fields[J]. Langmuir, 2018, 34(45): 13 534–13 543
Zhao JC, Guo Q, Huang W, et al. Shape Tuning and Size Prediction of Millimeter-Scale Calcium-Alginate Capsules with Aqueous Core[J]. Polymers, 2020, 12(3): 688–704
Ueno K, Hamasaki S, Wanless EJ, et al. Microcapsules Fabricated from Liquid Marbles Stabilized with Latex Particles[J]. Langmuir, 2014, 30(11): 3 051–3 059
Takei T, Yamasaki Y, Yuji Y, et al. Millimeter-Sized Capsules Prepared Using Liquid Marbles: Encapsulation of Ingredients with High Efficiency and Preparation of Spherical Core-Shell Capsules with Highly Uniform Shell Thickness Using Centrifugal Force[J]. J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2019, 536: 414–423
Caruso F. Hollow Inorganic Capsules Via Colloid-Templated Layer-by-Layer Electrostatic Assembly[J]. Top. Curr. Chem., 2003, 227: 145–168
Lorber N, Sarrazin F, Guillot P, et al. Some Recent Advances in the Design and the Use of Miniaturized Droplet-Based Continuous Process: Applications in Chemistry and High-Pressure Microflows[J]. Lab Chip, 2011, 11(5): 779–787
Amine C, Boire A, Davy J, et al. Optimization of a Droplet-Based Millifluidic Device to Investigate the Phase Behavior of Biopolymers, Including Viscous Conditions[J]. Food Biophys., 2020, 15(4): 463–472
Engl W, Tachibana M, Panizza P, et al. Millifluidic as a Versatile Reactor to Tune Size and Aspect Ratio of Large Polymerized Objects[J]. Int. J. Multiph. Flow, 2007, 33(8): 897–903
Vladisavljević GT, Shum HC, Weitz DA: Control over the Shell Thickness of Core/Shell Drops in Three-Phase Glass Capillary Devices, Uk Colloids 2011, 2012: 115–118
Liu ZM, Du Y, Pang Y. Generation of Water-in-Oil-in-Water (W/O/W) Double Emulsions by Microfluidics[J]. Chinese J. Anal. Chem., 2018, 46(3): 324–330
Liu MF, Chen SF, Qi XB, et al. Improvement of Wall Thickness Uniformity of Thick-Walled Polystyrene Shells by Density Matching[J]. Chem. Eng. J., 2014, 241: 466–476
Liu MF, Zheng YQ, Liu YY, et al. Effects of Surfactant Adsorption on the Formation of Compound Droplets in Microfluidic Devices[J]. RSC Adv., 2019, 9(71): 41 943–41 954
Tan B, Thomas NL. A Review of the Water Barrier Properties of Polymer/Clay and Polymer/Graphene Nanocomposites[J]. J. Membr. Sci., 2016, 514: 595–612
Luca G, Basta G, Calafiore R, et al. Multifunctional Microcapsules for Pancreatic Islet Cell Entrapment: Design, Preparation and in Vitro Characterization[J]. Biomaterials, 2003, 24(18): 3 101–3 114
Murua A, Portero A, Orive G, et al. Cell Microencapsulation Technology: Towards Clinical Application[J]. J. Control. Release, 2008, 132(2): 76–83
Westman JO, Ylitervo P, Franzen CJ, et al. Effects of Encapsulation of Microorganisms on Product Formation During Microbial Fermentations[J]. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 2012, 96(6): 1 441–1 454
Song WY, Lin GG, Ge J, et al. Encoding Microreactors with Droplet Chains in Microfluidics[J]. ACS Sens., 2017, 2(12): 1 839–1 846
Metz SJ, Van De Ven WJC, Potreck J, et al. Transport of Water Vapor and Inert Gas Mixtures through Highly Selective and Highly Permeable Polymer Membranes[J]. J. Membr. Sci., 2005, 251(1–2): 29–41
Gu Y, Kojima H, Miki N. Theoretical Analysis of 3d Emulsion Droplet Generation by a Device Using Coaxial Glass Tubes[J]. Sens. Actuator A Phys., 2011, 169(2): 326–332
Yu C, Wu LY, Li L, et al. Experimental Study of Double Emulsion Formation Behaviors in a One-Step Axisymmetric Flow-Focusing Device[J]. Exp. Therm. Fluid Sci., 2019, 103: 18–28
Huang LP, Mu XQ, Huang W, et al. Versatile Surface Modification of Millimeter-Scale “Aqueous Pearls” with Nanoparticles via Self-Polymerization of Dopamine[J]. Polym. Adv. Technol., 2021, 32(8): 3 059–3 069
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
All authors declare that there are no competing interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Huang, L., Li, S., Zhang, J. et al. Effect of Polyvinyl Alcohol in Inner Aqueous Phase on Stability of Millimeter-scale Capsules. J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mat. Sci. Edit. 39, 506–511 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-024-2906-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-024-2906-6