We report a new microfluidic emulsification technique for production of double-emulsion drops with an ultra-thin middle layer. The ultra-thin shell provides high degree of confinement of the core drops due to strong lubrication resistance along whole interfaces of the shell, making the double-emulsion drops highly stable. Therefore, by employing such double-emulsion drops as templates, we can readily produce microcapsules with ultra-thin membrane without rupture of the templates. In particular, the membranes can be perforated with regular nanopores, thereby providing selective permeability. To produce the perforated membrane, we have employed microphase separation of polymer blends or block-copolymers. Interaction parameter between polymers and their molecular weight determine the size of pore on the membrane; we can control the size of pores in a range of a few nanometers to hundred nanometers. The capsules with the tailored pores are potentially useful for controlled release of encapsulants, separation of catalytic reactions, and immunoisolation.

Perforated microcapsules with selective permeability created by double-emulsion templates

245th National Meeting (2013)

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