Microfluidic preparation and self diffusion PFG-NMR analysis of monodisperse water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions

Monodisperse water-in-oil-in-water (WOW) double emulsions have been prepared using microfluidic glass devices designed and built primarily from off the shelf components. The systems were easy to assemble and use. They were capable of producing double emulsions with an outer droplet size from 100 to 40 μm. Depending on how the devices were operated, double emulsions containing either single or multiple water droplets could be produced. Pulsed-field gradient self-diffusion NMR experiments have been performed on the monodisperse water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions to obtain information on the inner water droplet diameter and the distribution of the water in the different phases of the double emulsion. This has been achieved by applying regularization methods to the self-diffusion data. Using these methods the stability of the double emulsions to osmotic pressure imbalance has been followed by observing the change in the size of the inner water droplets over time.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (72 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Monodispersed water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions were prepared using microfluidic devices. ► Self-diffusion NMR used to characterize collected double emulsions. ► Regularized numerical inversion procedure extended to account for the different phases of water in the double emulsions. ► Stability of the double emulsion followed by self-diffusion NMR to show the effects of osmotic pressure imbalance.