Synthesis of polymer particles and capsules employing microfluidic techniques

Abstract

In the field of microfluidic particle synthesis, significant progress has been made during the past decade. Excellent control of the process and flow conditions allows the synthesis of particulate materials with unique properties, which are not achievable with conventional techniques. In this paper, we give a brief overview of the main strategies for microfluidic syntheses of polymer particles and microcapsules on the basis of continuous droplet formation as the initial process step. Additionally, we outline the major challenges, which have to be overcome to allow the fabrication of large quantities of novel microparticular products.