Methods of generating microparticles and porous hydrogels using microfluidics
OwnerJohn OAKEY, Kaspars KRUTKRAMELIS +1inventors
InventorsJohn OAKEY, Kaspars KRUTKRAMELIS, Bingzhao XIA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided herein are methods utilizing microfluidics for the oxygen-controlled generation of microparticles and hydrogels having controlled microparticle sizes and size distributions and products from provided methods. The included methods provide the generation of microparticles by polymerizing an aqueous solution dispersed in a non-aqueous continuous phase in an oxygen-controlled environment. The process allows for control of size of the size of the aqueous droplets and, thus, control of the size of the generated microparticles which may be used in biological applications.
Claims21
1-52. (canceled)
A method of preparing a plurality of microparticles in an oxygen-controlled environment via a microfluidic device, the method comprising:
- forming a composition of aqueous microdroplets dispersed in a non-aqueous liquid, wherein the aqueous microdroplets comprise a polymer precursor and an initiator;
- controlling an oxygen concentration of the composition to a predetermined level;
- and
- based on the oxygen content of the composition, fully polymerizing the polymer precursor of the microdroplets, or partially polymerizing the polymer precursor of the microdroplets, thereby forming the plurality of microparticles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.