Microfluidic Reactors for Polymer Particles (eBook)

Professor Eugenia Kumacheva is based in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto (Canada). She received her MSc degree from the Institute of Chemical Technology (now Technical University) in Saint Petersburg (Russia) and completed her PhD research in the physical chemistry of polymers at the Institute of Physical Chemistry (Russian Academy of Science). In 2002, she spent a sabbatical at Harvard University with Professor George Whitesides. Professor Kumacheva has published over 70 papers, has filed twelve patent applications and received a number of awards including the Macromolecular Science and Engineering CIC Award in 2005. Piotr Garsteckiis an assistant professor in the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, where he was obtained his PhD in Chemistry. From 2002 to 2005, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University (USA). In 2005, Piotr Garsteckireturned to the Polish Academy of Sciences, where his main research interestsare microfluidics and dynamic self-organization in complex fluids.

Preface.

1 Applications of Polymer Particles.

References.

2 Methods for the Generation of Polymer Particles.

2.1 Conventional Methods Used for Producing Polymer
Particles.

2.2 Microfluidic Generation of Polymer Particles.

References.

3 Introduction to Microfluidics.

3.1 Microfluidics.

3.2 Droplet Microfluidics.

References.

4 Physics of Microfluidic Emulsification.

4.1 Energy of the Interfaces Between Immiscible Fluids.

4.2 Surfactants.

4.3 Interfacial Tension.

4.4 Laplace Pressure.

4.5 Rayleigh-Plateau Instability.

4.6 Wetting of a Solid Surface.

4.7 Analysis of Flow.

4.8 Flow in Networks of Microchannels.

4.9 Dimensional Groups.

References.

5 Formation of Droplets in Microfluidic Systems.

5.1 Introduction.

5.2 Microfluidic Generators of Droplets and Bubbles.

5.3 T-Junction.

5.4 Formation of Droplets and Bubbles in Microfluidic
Flow-Focusing Devices.

5.5 Practical Guidelines for the Use of Microfluidic Devices for
Formation of Droplets.

5.6 Designing Droplets.

5.7 Conclusions.

References.

6 High-Throughput Microfluidic Systems for Formation of
Droplets.

6.1 Introduction.

6.2 Effects that Modify the Pressure Distribution.

6.3 Hydrodynamic Coupling.

6.4 Integrated Systems.

6.5 Parallel Formation of Droplets of Distinct Properties.

6.6 Conclusions.

References.

7 Synthesis of Polymer Particles in Microfluidic
Reactors.

7.1 Introduction.

7.2 Particles Synthesized by Free-Radical Polymerization.

7.3 Polymer Particles Synthesized by Polycondensation.

7.4 Combination of Free-Radical Polymerization and
Polycondensation Reactions.

7.5 General Considerations on the Use of Other Polymerization
Mechanisms.

7.6 Important Aspects of Microfluidic Polymerization of Polymer
Particles.

7.7 Synthesis of Composite Particles.

References.

8 Microfluidic Production of Hydrogel Particles.

8.1 Introduction.

8.2 Methods Used for the Production of Polymer Microgels.

8.3 Microfluidic Synthesis and Assembly of Polymer
Microgels.

8.4 Microfluidic Encapsulation of Bioactive Species in a
Microgel Interior.

References.

9 Polymer Capsules.

9.1 Polymer Capsules with Dimensions in Micrometer Size
Range.

9.2 Microfluidic Methods for the Generation of Polymer
Capsules.

9.3 Emerging Applications of Polymer Capsules Produced by
Microfluidic Methods.

References.

10 Microfluidic Synthesis of Polymer Particles with
Non-Conventional Shapes.

10.1 Generation of Particles with Non-Spherical Shapes.

10.2 Synthesis of Janus and Triphasic Particles.

10.3 Other Particles with "Non-Conventional"
Morphologies.

References.

Summary and Outlook.

Index.

"I highly recommend this volume to all colleagues interested in the
preparation of polymer micro- and nanoparticles with unusual
properties. The authors have done a fabulous job compiling all
relevant works, showing the state of the art in this fascinating
interdisciplinary area between particle synthesis, microfluidics
and several other fields of application." (Materials Views, 2
August 2011)