A device for the fabrication of multifunctional particles from microbubble suspensions

A novel V-junction microfluidic (VJM) device has been used to generate several types of particles from the break-up of bubbles. The flow rates of selected solutions and the gas pressure were adjusted in order to successfully generate monodisperse polymer coated microbubbles, which serve as a platform for particle generation. Uniform particles in both the nano and micro size ranges with different shapes were spontaneously generated from bubbles and have the potential to be used in several advanced technological applications.

► A novel microfluidic device has been designed and fabricated.
► The device was used to generate microbubbles.
► The bubbles spontaneously breakdown to polymer particles.
► Several types of particles useful in biomedical engineering are thus produced.
► The size, size-distribution and shape of the particles were controlled.