Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hye-Seon Jeong, Eunseo Kim, Jong Pil Park, Sei-Jung Lee, Hyomin Lee, Chang Hyung Choi
Summary: We developed PNIPAm-co-PEGDA hydrogel shelled microcapsules with a thin oil layer for tunable thermo-responsive release of small hydrophilic actives. By using a microfluidic device integrated with a temperature-controlled chamber, we were able to consistently produce the microcapsules using triple emulsion drops as capsule templates. The presence of an interstitial oil layer between the aqueous core and the hydrogel shell allowed for controlled release of the encapsulated substances upon reaching a critical temperature. Additionally, the incorporation of gold nanorods in the hydrogel shell enables spatiotemporal regulation of the active release using near infrared light.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Linhuai Li, Jun Cen, Lingling Huang, Ling Luo, Guangqi Jiang
Summary: The development of a photothermally controlled-release microcapsule pesticide delivery system using avermectin as the model drug was investigated. The system demonstrated excellent pH-responsive and photothermal-sensitive performances and improved UV-shielding capability. The release of pesticide-active substances could be regulated by near-infrared light or LED-simulated sunlight, resulting in enhanced nematicidal activity.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hedieh Fallahi, Haotian Cha, Hossein Adelnia, Yuchen Dai, Hang Thu Ta, Sharda Yadav, Jun Zhang, Nam-Trung Nguyen
Summary: Microfluidic technologies have been widely used for single-cell studies due to their easy, cost-effective, and high-throughput evaluations. However, the release of captured cells is currently challenging. This study developed a stretchable microfluidic cell trapper that allows for easy on-demand release of cells in a deterministic manner.
NANOSCALE HORIZONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Li Chen, Yao Xiao, Zhiming Zhang, Chun-Xia Zhao, Baoling Guo, Fangfu Ye, Dong Chen
Summary: This study utilizes ultrathin-shell water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions as templates to design porous ultrathin-shell microcapsules for selective permeation and multiple stimuli-triggered release. These microcapsules exhibit excellent properties including tunable size, selective permeation, and stimuli-triggered release, making them promising platforms for various applications.
FRONTIERS OF CHEMICAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Zhidian Diao, Xixian Wang, Jiaping Zhang, Anle Ge, Teng Xu, Lingyan Kan, Yuandong Li, Yuetong Ji, Xiaoyan Jing, Jian Xu, Bo Ma
Summary: Static droplet arrays are important for high-capacity screening assays, but extracting target droplets remains a challenge. This study presents an optical-based on-demand droplet release system using a 1064 nm laser to push out droplets. The system has a high success rate and low residual volume, making it suitable for high-throughput screening assays.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Tom Elkeles, Sinwook Park, Jorg G. Werner, David A. Weitz, Gilad Yossifon
Summary: This work presents the dielectrophoresis and in situ electrorotation characterization of reversible stimuli-responsive dynamic microcapsules that can change their physicochemical properties under varying pH conditions. The study shows that the conductivity of the capsules' shells is most influenced by pH and provides insight into the characteristic time scales of physical processes through transient response measurements. Additionally, the magnetic manipulation of microcapsules with embedded magnetic nanoparticles for lab-on-chip tasks is demonstrated, along with the on-chip determination of their physicochemical state using electrorotation.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Danqing Huang, Cheng Zhao, Baojie Wen, Xiao Fu, Luoran Shang, Wentao Kong, Yuanjin Zhao
Summary: A novel microcapsule delivery system with a perfluorocarbon core carrying oxygen and a hydrogel shell encapsulating an antimetabolite and a sonosensitizer has been developed to enhance the efficacy of chemo-sonodynamic therapy against pancreatic cancer. The system is able to reverse the hypoxic microenvironment, enhance reactive oxygen species production during therapy, and induce cytotoxicity with assistance from the release of the antimetabolite in the presence of low intensity ultrasound. Significant anti-tumor effects have been achieved in patient-derived pancreatic cancer organoid models.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Hongwei Lu, Ji Xu, Jinfan Yang, Zhongling Wang, Peng Xu, Qian Hao, Wen Luo, Shuaijun Li, Zhengqing Li, Xiangdong Xue, Hongbo Zheng, Zhangjian Zhou, Hao Wu, Xiaobin Ma, Yuanpei Li
Summary: This study presents a smart on-demand targeting nanotheranostic system that improves drug delivery efficiency for ovarian cancer through stimuli-responsive releasing.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaowei Zhai, Meidie Pan, Pan Shi, Peng Zhao, Dong Chen
Summary: In this paper, co-axial microfluidic devices were optimized by numerical simulations and flow resistance analysis to achieve one-step high-throughput controlled preparation of biocompatible water/water microcapsules with good uniformity, tunable size, and shell thickness. The influences of various factors on the properties of the microcapsules were systematically investigated, and the devices were parallelly amplified to achieve high-throughput preparation. The water/water microcapsules showed controlled pH-triggered release of encapsulated cargos, making them ideal delivery vehicles for various actives.
CHEMICAL JOURNAL OF CHINESE UNIVERSITIES-CHINESE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Cheng Zhao, Guopu Chen, Huan Wang, Yuanjin Zhao, Renjie Chai
Summary: A novel microcapsule inspired by scavenger behavior is introduced for cleaning intestinal LPS, protecting cells, and reducing inflammation. It has been demonstrated to be a promising candidate for treating metabolic syndrome and other LPS related diseases.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Keli Yang, Xiaocheng Wang, Rongkang Huang, Hui Wang, Ping Lan, Yuanjin Zhao
Summary: This study introduces a novel prebiotics and postbiotics synergistic delivery microcapsule that shows significant protective effects against colitis by modulating the gut microbiota, making it an ideal candidate for colitis treatment.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Taiyu Song, Hui Zhang, Zhiqiang Luo, Luoran Shang, Yuanjin Zhao
Summary: Chemotherapy is hindered by tumor heterogeneity in pancreatic cancer patients. This study introduces a microfluidic encapsulated and integrated primary pancreatic cancer cells platform for biomimetic tumor 3D cultivation and clinical drug evaluation. The results demonstrate its potential in clinical drug evaluation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Caihong Yang, Xiaoya Ding, Chaoyu Yang, Luoran Shang, Yuanjin Zhao
Summary: In this study, marine polymer composite microcapsules were prepared using microfluidic electrospray for wound healing. The microcapsules, composed of an alginate (ALG) core and a chitosan (CS) shell, showed excellent biocompatibility and antibacterial capacity. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) could also be loaded and sustainably released from the microcapsules. The microcapsules demonstrated their potential clinical applications by inhibiting bacterial growth and promoting angiogenesis during wound closure.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yujuan Zhu, Lingyu Sun, Xiao Fu, Junying Liu, Zhenjiang Liang, Hui Tan, Weiping Li, Yuanjin Zhao
Summary: Our multidisciplinary strategy involves engineering vascularized human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived brain organoids system with biomimetic features using microfluidic hydrogel microcapsules. The precise fluids control of microfluidic electrospray technology enables the efficient encapsulation of hiPSCs-derived neural cells and formation of uniform human brain organoids. The resulting vascularized brain organoids exhibit structured organization, reasonable tissue size, in vivo-like neural identity, brain region, layered cortex, and complex vascular networks.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lanyu Yuan, Wu Feng, Zhao Zhang, Yunyan Peng, Yao Xiao, Jiaping Chen
Summary: A new edible starch-based antibacterial composite film containing thyme oil microemulsions or microcapsules was prepared for chilled meat preservation. The film showed strong antibacterial effects and slow-release characteristics, significantly extending the shelf life of chilled meat and reducing microbial contamination.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hyeong Jun Lee, Sanghyuk Park, Jong Bin Kim, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: Colloidal lithography is used to create regular micro- and nano-patterns by employing colloidal crystals as masks. By utilizing the capillary wetting effect and photoresists, 3D structures with undulated surfaces can be designed.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Young Geon Kim, Sanghyuk Park, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: By using colloidal crystals in the form of microspheres as building blocks, spherical microcapsules with density anisotropy were designed. These microcapsules spontaneously align under gravity and display a bright and uniform reflection color. The success of this alignment is due to the use of gentle centrifugal force to initiate nucleation and grow single-crystalline grains from the heavy side through depletion attraction.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shin-Hyun Kim, Jong Bin Kim, Seong Kyeong Nam, Sanghyuk Park, Esther Amstad
Summary: By assembling silica particles in emulsion droplets, we can create structural color coatings with high brightness, saturation, and angle dependence.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sehee Yang, Young Geon Kim, Sanghyuk Park, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: Researchers have developed photonic microcapsules with dual or triple stopbands, offering a wider range of colors and optical codes. By manipulating interparticle interactions, they were able to control the size and composition of crystalline grains in the microcapsules, resulting in controllable mixed structural colors and reflectance spectra.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ji-Won Kim, Sang Hoon Han, Minhee Ku, Jaemoon Yang, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: Chemophotothermal therapy is a promising cancer treatment method that combines photothermal agents and drugs. However, low payload, burst release, and dilution have limited its effectiveness. To overcome these limitations, smart microcapsules were designed as a practical material for chemophotothermal therapy. Water-in-oil-in-water double-emulsion templates were produced to encapsulate photothermal nanoparticles and drugs. The microcapsules release drugs when the phase-change material (PCM) in the polymer shell melts, while retaining drugs without leakage when frozen. The concentrated nanoparticles provide rapid and intense heating, allowing for controlled drug release using near-infrared irradiation.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sihun Park, Sang Seok Lee, Sehee Yang, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: A design rule is reported for the asymmetric pairing of distinct droplets to provide bright color patterns through strong cross-communication and enrich a variety of optical codes. Cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) droplets with different stopband positions and sizes are paired, and the brightness of corresponding color patterns is maximized when the pairs effectively guide light along the double reflection path by stopbands of two droplets. The effectiveness of pairing is quantitatively predicted by a geometric model, serving as a design rule for programming the asymmetric photonic cross-communication.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yi Yang, Jong Bin Kim, Seong Kyeong Nam, Mengmeng Zhang, Jiangping Xu, Jintao Zhu, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: This article introduces a new type of structural color, crescent-shaped microparticles, which exhibit brilliant colors under directional light and are transparent under ambient light. By adjusting the size of the microparticles, the colors can be finely tuned. These nanostructure-free colorants can be used as invisible inks for anti-counterfeiting patches and color cosmetics, due to their low-cost, scalable manufacturing, unique optical properties, and versatility.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jong Hyun Kim, Wahyu Martumpal Hamonangan, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: This research designs elastic photonic shells with enhanced color saturation and high deformability using W/O/W double-emulsion templates. The shells contain acrylate-based resin with non-close-packed arrays of silica particles, which are improved in crystalline order by increasing the concentration of water-soluble molecules. The coloration of the shells can also be tuned through osmotic inflation in hypotonic conditions.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jong Bin Kim, Hwan-Young Lee, Changju Chae, Su Yeon Lee, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: This study formulates high-performance Bingham inks by destabilizing silica particle suspensions, which swiftly transition from liquid to solid upon discharge, facilitating rapid, shrinkage-free printing. The resulting prints display structural colors and enhanced mechanical properties.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hyunbin Kim, Do Hyun Kim, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: Microreactors are crucial in nanoparticle synthesis, allowing for better control over reaction conditions and improving heat and mass transfer. However, traditional fabrication methods can be complex and expensive. The Bolt-nut microreactor offers a practical and cost-effective alternative, allowing for adjustable volume and easy cleaning, and achieving better size distribution and light output for quantum dots synthesis.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ye Hun Choi, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: A method for producing single-crystalline photonic supraballs is proposed by controlling the crystallization process through osmotic extraction in emulsion droplets. The method allows for a consistent rate of consolidation and improved selectivity of crystalline structures. By mixing particle-laden droplets and salt-dissolved droplets, the particle droplets shrink and crystallize while the salt droplets expand, resulting in the enrichment and crystallization of particles. The rate of enrichment is controlled by adjusting the salt concentration, enabling dominant production of single-crystalline structures in a relatively short consolidation time.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ji-Won Kim, Chao Chen, Hyunki Kim, Shin-Hyun Kim, Ryan C. Hayward
Summary: This study investigates the effect of surface tension on the light-induced wrinkling of hydrogel disks containing photothermally-active gold nanoparticles. By changing the surface tension through the concentration of a poly(vinyl alcohol) surfactant, a critical threshold for wrinkling is observed, followed by a decrease in wrinkle number with decreasing surface tension. Finite element simulations show similar trends as the experiments. The findings provide insights into controlling the interfacial behavior of reconfigurable and shape-morphing films.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sehee Yang, Young Geon Kim, Sanghyuk Park, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: The researchers created photonic microcapsules with dual or triple stopbands, offering a wider range of colors through structural color mixing. They controlled the crystallization of colloidal mixtures using depletion forces and specific conditions, resulting in different particles and controlled ratios within the crystals.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ye Hun Choi, Jiwoo Lee, Esther Amstad, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: This study explores the variation of surface arrangements in icosahedral clusters composed of colloids and identifies the determining factors behind the surface arrangement. The experimental approach of droplet-to-droplet osmotic extraction is used to efficiently assemble particles in emulsion droplets. The findings reveal that the sphericity of the clusters plays a pivotal role in determining the number of layers in the anti-Mackay shells on the surface.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sanghyuk Park, Shin-Hyun Kim
Summary: This study presents a simple and efficient method for producing photonic micropatterns through bottom-up depletion-mediated regioselective growth of colloidal crystals. The method allows high-resolution micropatterning and control over the structural colors through concentration, depletant and salt, as well as particle size. Additionally, secondary colors can be generated through structural color mixing. The findings offer a general approach for designing elaborate photonic micropatterns suitable for various applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
