Development of microbubble-encapsulated-vesicles generation method using flow-focusing device

The method of generating the Microbubble-enCapsulated-Vesicles (MCV) using flow-focusing device is discussed. First, monodisperse micro-droplets containing microbubbles are generated using flow-focusing device. Then, the vesicles are prepared by adsorbing phospholipids to surface of the droplets with the inverted emulsion method.

Droplet formation process can be classified into three regimes by the capillary number divided by the orifice width. At a low capillary number, the dispersed phase blocks the orifice and breaks into droplets. Therefore, the equivalent hydraulic diameter of the orifice and flow rate of the continuous phase has a great influence on the droplet size. At a high capillary number, the dispersed phase are stretched by the shear force and split into small droplets. The viscosity and flow rate of the continuous phase are the important factors in droplet formation. Furthermore, the influence of containing microbubbles will be also discussed in the presentation.