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Nanoscale interfacial complexation in emulsions and spontaneous droplet hatching for microcapsules
Problem:
Polyelectrolyte microcapsules can be prepared by a layer-by-layer assembly method to form nanoengineered shells that are sensitive to external stimuli and enable the encapsulation, protection, and release of active agents. Conventional synthesis approaches suffer from low efficiency and do not accommodate incorporating hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials simultaneously.
Solution:
Researchers in the Lee Lab have developed a nanoscale interfacial complexation in emulsion (NICE) method that involves the complexation of two polymers that self-assemble to form an insoluble layer at an oil-water interface.
The method uses a microfluidic device that contains a water-oil-water interface. The polymer complex is formed at the outermost water-oil interface, and the material to be encapsulated is introduced at the innermost water layer. Oppositely charged polymers are sequentially deposited onto a sacrificial solid core to form polyelectrolyte complex-based coatings on the solid particle. The core particle is removed via dissolution to form a hollow microcapsule, with target encapsulants introduced through the microcapsule shell by tuning the permeability to achieve microencapsulation.
Advantages:
Applications:
Stage of Development:
Proof-of-principle production of polyelectrolyte nanocapsules; device fabrication
Intellectual Property:
US application
Reference Media:
Desired Partnerships:
Docket # 15-7465
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