Preparation of monodisperse PNIPAM gel particles in a microfluidic device fabricated by stereolithography

A microfluidic device with three-dimensional flow channels is fabricated by stereolithography according to a computer-aided design (CAD) model. By injecting water and oil phases into the device, a monodisperse water-in-oil emulsion is formed. We show that monodisperse thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel particles can be prepared by photopolymerization of a gelation reagent dissolved in the water phase. Polymer Journal (2011) 43, 987-990; doi:10.1038/pj.2011.103; published online 19 October 2011