Microfluidic fabrication of microparticles for biomedical applications

Wen Li,

†*^ab Liyuan Zhang,†^b Xuehui Ge,†^bc Biyi Xu,

^bd Weixia Zhang,

^b Liangliang Qu,^b Chang-Hyung Choi,

^be Jianhong Xu,

^c Afang Zhang,

^a Hyomin Lee

*^bf and David A. Weitz

*^b

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a School of Materials Science & Engineering, Department of Polymer Materials, Shanghai University, 333 Nanchen Street, Shanghai 200444, China
E-mail: wli@shu.edu.cn

^b School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Department of Physics, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
E-mail: weitz@seas.harvard.edu

^c The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Gongwuguan 772, Haidian District, Beijing 100084, China

^d State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China

^e Division of Cosmetic Science and Technology, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38610, Republic of Korea

^f Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
E-mail: hyomin@postech.ac.kr

Abstract

Droplet microfluidics offers exquisite control over the flows of multiple fluids in microscale, enabling fabrication of advanced microparticles with precisely tunable structures and compositions in a high throughput manner. The combination of these remarkable features with proper materials and fabrication methods has enabled high efficiency, direct encapsulation of actives in microparticles whose features and functionalities can be well controlled. These microparticles have great potential in a wide range of bio-related applications including drug delivery, cell-laden matrices, biosensors and even as artificial cells. In this review, we briefly summarize the materials, fabrication methods, and microparticle structures produced with droplet microfluidics. We also provide a comprehensive overview of their recent uses in biomedical applications. Finally, we discuss the existing challenges and perspectives to promote the future development of these engineered microparticles.