Fabrication of quantum dots-encoded microbeads with a simple capillary fluidic device and their application for biomolecule detection

Monodispersed quantum dots (QDs)-encoded polymer microbeads were generated using a simple capillary fluidic device (CFD). The polymer and QDs solution was emulsified into monodispersed microdroplets by the CFD and obtained droplets were solidified via solvent evaporation. Polymer microbeads can be fabricated in a range of different sizes through changing the flow rates of the two immiscible phases, and have a highly narrow size distribution and uniform shape. QDs-encoding capacity of the microbeads was investigated through adjusting the concentrations and ratios of QDs in the polymer solution. Mono-color encoded microbeads with five intensities and a dual-color QDs-encoded 5 × 5 microbeads array were obtained, and the spectral profiles of the microbeads were examined by a fluorescent microscope coupled with a spectral imaging system. QDs-tagged microbeads prepared with this method were more stable than the porous beads swollen with QDs in the buffer with various pH and crosslinking chemicals. Finally, the application of such microbeads for biomolecule detection was demonstrated by conjugation of rabbit IgG molecules on the surface of the microbeads via carboxyl groups, which were then detected by fluorophores-labeled goat-anti-rabbit IgG antibodies.

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► QDs-encoded microbeads were prepared by simple capillary fluidic device.
► Uniformed QDs-encoded microbeads were generated with high reproducibility.
► Encoding capacity and stability of microbeads was studied.
► Array of 25 dual-color encoded microbeads was prepared.