Progress in Preparation of Microspheres Using Microfluidic Devices

Compared with traditional mechanical mixing method, monodisperse and uniform microspheres with controllable morphology can be obtained by microfluidic technology. The mechanism of this technology and its applications in the fields of drug carrier, cell carrier, separation matrix, food manufacturing and enzymology are reviewed. In addition, the effects of material and shape of microfluidic device, property of liquids used for experiment on the formation of particles are mainly discussed. Avoiding phase inversion by modifying the inner wall of microchannel and controlling continuous phase are pointed. Moreover, controlling the shape of microspheres by means of changing the dimensions of microchannels and continuous phases are also shown. Furthermore, some novel prospects of this promising technology are briefly discussed.