Abstract

Microfluidics has emerged as a novel platform for a diverse array of actual and potential applications ranging from drug delivery, point-of-care diagnostic chips, to microreactors. Recent developments on microfabrication techniques have opened the door to particle synthesis with precise control over the shapes, morphologies, and size distributions. This paper presents the recent patents on microfluidic strategies for the production of particles, such as core-shell particles, Janus particles (two-component or three-component) and non-spherical particles (ellipsoidal, discoid, rod). Advances in the design of relevant microfluidic chips, fabrication process, and techniques for assembling component, are converging towards biomedical applications of droplet-based microfluidic technologies

Keywords: Microfluidics, droplet, nanoparticles, microparticles, core-shell particles, Janus particles, non-spherical particles, emulsification, multiemulsification, monodisperse, fusion, mixing, encapsulation, synthesis, bioassay, imaging.