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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATION OF EMULSIONS WITH LOW INTERFACIAL TENSION AND MEASURING FREQUENCY VIBRATIONS IN THE SYSTEM

Summary

A method and apparatus for generating droplets with a high level of uniformity in liquid systems that present a low interfacial tension. This method and apparatus utilize the breakup of the dispersed phase in a controlled fashion by periodically varying the pressure that drives the fluids so as to successfully generate emulsions with a good control over the size. The method and apparatus can be used for the formation of simple emulsion or double emulsion where a larger droplet contains one or more smaller droplets.

Supplementary Information

Patent Number: US20130274353A1
Application Number: US13839072A
Inventor: Shum, Ho Cheung | Sauret, Alban | Li, Zida | Song, Yang
Priority Date: 16 Mar 2012
Priority Number: US20130274353A1
Application Date: 15 Mar 2013
Publication Date: 17 Oct 2013
IPC Current: B01F000308 | G01H000304
US Class: 516020 | 073579 | 2640047 | 366108 | 516009
Assignee Applicant: The University of Hong Kong
Title: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATION OF EMULSIONS WITH LOW INTERFACIAL TENSION AND MEASURING FREQUENCY VIBRATIONS IN THE SYSTEM
Usefulness: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATION OF EMULSIONS WITH LOW INTERFACIAL TENSION AND MEASURING FREQUENCY VIBRATIONS IN THE SYSTEM
Summary: For producing a simple emulsion containing two different immiscible fluid phases with a low interfacial tension with a high level of uniformity; for producing a double emulsion containing at least two immiscible phases with a low interfacial tension and a high level of uniformity; for producing an all-aqueous double emulsion containing at least two immiscible aqueous phases; for measuring the frequency of vibrations in a system for creating an emulsion containing two different immiscible aqueous phases whose interfacial tension is low in which a flexible tubing carrying an inner fluid is mechanically vibrated and it is injected in a microfluidic device inside an outer fluid (claimed); for producing simple and double emulsions when the different liquid phases have low interfacial tension and for measuring the frequency of vibrations used in the system. The emulsions are used in food, cosmetic and coating industries and in drug delivery and oil extraction; and also for fabricating a variety of functional materials, including microgels and liposomes, which are used for drug delivery; polymersomes used for encapsulating and protecting sensitive molecules, such as drugs, enzymes, other proteins and peptides, and DNA and RNA fragments; and colloidosomes; and as candidate for cellular immunoisolation.
Novelty: Forming simple emulsion having two different immiscible fluid phases, used in e.g. cosmetics involves introducing outer/inner phase fluid to capillary of microfluidic device via tube/flexible tube; and mechanically vibrating flexible tubing

Industry

Biomedical

Sub Category

DNA/Gene Engineering

Application No.

13/839,072

Country/Region

USA