MICROFLUIDICS NANOMATERIAL SYNTHESIS PACK
High throughput, monodispersity and reproducibility
Unbox, set up and start your experiments right away
Synthesize nanomaterials like PLGA for drug delivery for example
Microfluidics nanomaterial synthesis
The microfluidics nanomaterial synthesis Pack includes all the microfluidic parts (instruments and microchannels) for synthesizing nanomaterials by flow focusing with good monodispersity, throughput, and reproducibility. This pack has synthesized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles with a monodispersed diameter smaller than 200 µm.
Based on the fast and accurate OB1 flow controller (Elveflow) and sheath flow microfluidic chips, this solution reduces synthesis time and reagent consumption compared to bulk experiments.
A standard microfluidics nanomaterial synthesis pack contains two pumping channels to push the two chemical solutions needed for nanomaterial synthesis using a hydrodynamic flow focus. This sheath flow synthesis allows controlled nanoprecipitation.
The stability and the kinetics of the reaction directly depend on the flow rates of each fluid in the microfluidic channel. Have you never performed a microfluidic experiment? Our experts will offer technical support to develop the microfluidic platform to synthesize your first nanomaterial.
Microfluidic nanoprecipitation enables a good throughput, monodispersity with tunable particle size, and, generally, better control of the nanomaterial synthesis.
Microfluidics nanomaterial synthesis pack setup
An all-in-one pack guarantees a good compatibility between the different componentes, allows a plug-and-play approach, is controlled by a single customizable software and can be used for other different experiments. These are a few arguments why a pack is the easiest way to setup a microfluidic experiment and is perfect for beginner and expert users.
A typical pack contains:
- An OB1 flow controller (Elveflow)
- 2 x MFS flow sensors (or BFS flow) (Elveflow)
- Reservoirs
- Every chemicals needed for microfluidics nanomaterial synthesis
- Microfluidic chip from microfluidic ChipShop
- All necessary accessories: tubing, connectors, filters, etc…
- ESI software for control and automation (Elveflow)
Microfluidics sheath continuous flow nanoprecipitation principle
It has been showed that microfluidics technology can be particularly useful for synthesis of organic and inorganic nanoparticles with tunable shape and size [1]. A “bottom-up” nanomaterial formation approach that you can implement with this Pack is generally composed of three stages: nucleation of nanomaterials that consists of polymeric monomers, nuclei growth by aggregation of more monomers and finally an equilibrium is reached [2-3]. The synthesis has a better yield and has a better tunability in microfluidics than in bulk synthesis [4-5].
In the case of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoprecipitation, PLGA monomers dissolved in an organic solvent and injected in the middle channel of the junction. Water mixed with surfactant is injected in the sheath flow channels to focus the PLGA fluid stream. A concentration gradient is formed by diffusion and the PLGA nanoparticles precipitate as this molecule is not soluble in water [6].
Other nanomaterials have also been synthesized using microfluidic technology like metal nanoparticles for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) applications [7]. Polydiacetylene nanomaterials have also been successfully obtained with this kind of setup [8].
Advantages of microfluidics for nanomaterial production
A microfluidic platform to synthesize nanomaterials is an excellent way to reduce the nanomaterial’s diameter dispersity thanks to finely tuned fluid properties and reactions. High-speed kinetics is also possible, which is essential for crystallization and precipitation processes to synthesize polymeric nanomaterials, for example.
Furthermore, using microfluidics is a way to decrease the amount of potentially valuable samples needed for the synthesis.
To summarize, nanomaterial synthesis is more effective in microfluidic than bulk synthesis regarding time, yield and dispersity.
Since microfluidic chips are miniaturized, it is possible to implement this nanomaterial synthesis part in a more complex experiment platform to perform complicated and multifunctional integrated process.
References
- Ma, Junping, et al. “Controllable synthesis of functional nanoparticles by microfluidic platforms for biomedical applications–a review.” Lab on a Chip 17.2 (2017): 209-226.
- Karnik, Rohit, et al. “Microfluidic platform for controlled synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles.” Nano letters 8.9 (2008): 2906-2912.
- Lababidi, Nashrawan, et al. “Microfluidics as tool to prepare size-tunable PLGA nanoparticles with high curcumin encapsulation for efficient mucus penetration.” Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology 10.1 (2019): 2280-2293.
- Visaveliya, Nikunjkumar, and J. Michael Köhler. “Single-step microfluidic synthesis of various nonspherical polymer nanoparticles via in situ assembling: dominating role of polyelectrolytes molecules.” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 6.14 (2014): 11254-11264.
- Song, Yujun, Josef Hormes, and Challa SSR Kumar. “Microfluidic synthesis of nanomaterials.” small 4.6 (2008): 698-711.
- Donno, Roberto, et al. “Nanomanufacturing through microfluidic-assisted nanoprecipitation: Advanced analytics and structure-activity relationships.” International Journal of Pharmaceutics 534.1-2 (2017): 97-107.
- Boken, J., D. Kumar, and S. Dalela. “Synthesis of nanoparticles for plasmonics applications: A microfluidic approach.” Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic, Metal-Organic, and Nano-Metal Chemistry 45.8 (2015): 1211-1223.
- Baek, Sunghoon, et al. “Nanoscale diameter control of sensory polydiacetylene nanoparticles on microfluidic chip for enhanced fluorescence signal.” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 230 (2016): 623-629.
- Banerjee, Deboshri, Rania Harfouche, and Shiladitya Sengupta. “Nanotechnology-mediated targeting of tumor angiogenesis.” Vascular cell 3 (2011): 1-13.
Customize your microfluidics nanomaterial production
This pack is highly customizable. Different microfluidic chips can be adapted for nanomaterial synthesis; for example, a chip with a more extended channel after the junction for the chemical reaction to have more space.
The sheath flow cell sorting chips from Microfluidic ChipShop are available in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or Cyclo Olefin Copolymer (COP) materials. These materials are optically transparent and compatible with most nanomaterial synthesis protocols. Different channel depths are also available.
More pumping channels with various pressure ranges (positive or negative) for the OB1 flow control pump and flow rate sensors can be added to the pack.
Coriolis flow sensors can be chosen to replace the MFS to improve the flow control even more.
Contact our experts for any questions about this nanomaterial synthesis pack and how it can match your specifications.
– Check our other Packs for various applications –
How can we help your experiment
The packs applications are still under development, so we are not able to give you the tips or troubleshooting advice that we usually give in our user guides and application notes for the possible challenges you could face for a specific application experiment. That being said, we can always guarantee reliable and high-precision microfluidic flow control. Our microfluidic instruments are high-performance, versatile and user-friendly. Our experts will bring support and expertise during the setup and implementation of this sensor calibration pack.
Can a pack be customized
Yes! Our experts will establish which instruments are best suited for your application, such as the type of flow sensor or the number of flow controller channels you need to perform your experiment. Drop us a line at innovation@microfluidic.fr.
Can I buy individual instruments?
You can order the instruments on the product section of our website.