Issue 17, 2021

Dielectrophoretic medium exchange around droplets for on-chip fabrication of layer-by-layer microcapsules

Abstract

Continuous medium exchange within a microchannel represents a highly sought-after technique in functionalizing micro-objects with coating layers, enabling a myriad of applications ranging from biomedical engineering to materials science. Herein, we introduce a unique medium exchange approach, namely, tilted-angle dielectrophoresis, to accomplish layer-by-layer (LbL) coating on droplets in a wide microchannel. Pairs of adjacent tilted parallel electrodes arranged in a zigzag fashion are exploited to consecutively and repeatedly guide particles/droplets travelling through three parallel laminar streams comprising two reagents and a washing buffer. The performance of medium exchange is demonstrated using PS microparticles and oil droplets. We show that multi-cycle medium exchange, droplet transfer accompanied with purification, and multi-mode medium exchange around different micro-objects are achieved by conveniently regulating the applied voltage and the inlet flow rate, indicating a flexible, versatile and label-free alternative for characterizing and handling colloidal particles. Furthermore, LbL coating on droplets utilizing the presented strategy is implemented in the parallel coating-chemical and washing streams to obtain multiple layers of microcapsules. The linearly increasing fluorescence intensity of the coated droplets with each subsequent fluorescent coating demonstrates the capability of the tilted-angle dielectrophoretic medium exchanger for on-chip generation of LbL microcapsules on demand. The presented medium exchange strategy, together with its unique features of simple geometric configuration, facile control and multifunctionality, can provide a refined alternative for further expanding the utility scope in functional particles and cells.

Graphical abstract: Dielectrophoretic medium exchange around droplets for on-chip fabrication of layer-by-layer microcapsules

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Apr 2021
Accepted
30 Jun 2021
First published
01 Jul 2021

Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3352-3360

Dielectrophoretic medium exchange around droplets for on-chip fabrication of layer-by-layer microcapsules

H. Sun, Y. Ren, T. Jiang, Y. Tao and H. Jiang, Lab Chip, 2021, 21, 3352 DOI: 10.1039/D1LC00357G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements