Microfluidic fabrication of photo-responsive hydrogel capsules

Abstract: We report thermo- and photo-responsive hydrogel capsules, providing controlled encapsulation and triggered release of water-soluble encapsulants. Monodisperse O/W/O (oil-in-water-in-oil) double-emulsion drops are produced in a capillary microfluidic device as templates, which transform into hydrogel capsules upon polymerization of thermo-sensitive monomers in water phase containing gold nanorods.

This is an interesting work on Chem. Com. focusing on a encapsulation and controlled release manipulating microfluidic systems. More specifically, a double emulsion droplet (Oil/Water/Oil) was produced in the microfluidic tubes. Thermally responsive monomer was included in the middle layer, and eventually functions upon heat treatment releasing encapsulated drugs. They also embedded gold nanorods and fluorescent dyes for better characterization. Meanwhile, the gold nanorods response to radiative activation bring the rupture of capsules as a result.