One-step method for monodisperse microbiogels by glass capillary microfluidics

We present a novel one-step method to generate monodisperse microbiogel encapsulations. Both gelatin and alginate microbiogels are obtained by simply drying the middle oil phase of W/O/W double emulsion templates formed by a glass capillary microfluidics technique. We monitor the release of encapsulated proteins in the microbiogels at three different temperatures including physiological temperature (37 degrees C), and find the release of the encapsulants can be regulated by controlling the temperature. This one-step method provides a significant guide for the production of size-controllable microbiogels encapsulating various active ingredients. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.