Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
Microfluidic Device with Removable Capillaries
Technology Category/Market
Category- Micro & Nano Technologies
Industry Classification:
Pharmaceuticals; Food & Beverages; Cosmetics
Applications:
Controlled drug release, particularly in formulations with drugs like Metformin ; creams, lotions, and other emulsions where consistency and particle size control are critical ; Microencapsulation for Agricultural Products ; controlled-release formats, enhancing the efficacy and reducing environmental impact
Market report:
Microfluidic Droplet Generator Market was valued at USD 1.2 Billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to USD 3.5 Billion by the end of 2030 with a CAGR of 17.5%
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Problem Statement
- Conventional bulk emulsification creates polydisperse emulsions, affecting stability, texture, appearance and shelf life. Monodisperse emulsions with narrow droplet distribution offer better stability.
- Microfluidic approaches enable monodisperse emulsions; however, existing devices struggle with solvent compatibility, ease of adjustments, and cost-effectiveness of fabrication.
- Current glass capillary microfluidic devices face issues like solvent incompatibility and require use of adhesives while being expensive with complex fabrication tools for capillary adjustments.
- There is a need for a glass capillary microfluidic device that is solvent-compatible, easily adjustable, with easy replacement of clogged capillaries while being economic to fabricate.
Technology
- The technology uses detachable capillaries to form a modular microfluidic setup, where the spacing between the inlet capillary and the receiving orifice can be adjusted to control the size of emulsified droplets.
- The spacing between the micro-capillary tip and the receiving orifice is adjustable, allowing precise control over droplet size in emulsions, tailored to specific application needs.
- The device includes a leak-proof joining unit with elastomeric seals, ensuring efficient, contamination-free operation and ease of disassembly for maintenance and cleaning.
- Droplet size in microfluidic emulsions is influenced by fluid flow rates, microchannel geometry, and fluid properties. Fine-tuning flow rates controls droplet size, with uniform particles (80–90 µm) formed by controlling flow rate ratios and geometry.
- In the water-glycerol and silicone oil system, droplet size decreases with higher continuous-phase flow and lower discrete-phase flow, highlighting the importance of precise flow control for consistent emulsion particle formation.
- Fabricated from low-cost materials like glass and Teflon, the device is durable, reusable, and easy to manufacture in basic facilities, offering significant cost advantages over high-precision alternatives
Key Features/Value Proposition
- The device features detachable capillaries for easy adjustments and replacements, allowing versatility in the preparation of monodisperse emulsions.
- The spacing between the inlet capillary’s micro-capillary tip and receiving orifice can be adjusted to control the droplet size of emulsions.
- The use of simple components and manual fabrication makes this device cost-effective compared to complex, high-precision alternatives.
- Traditional devices often face clogging or compatibility issues with solvents. This device addresses these issues, especially for organic or hydrocarbon solvents.
- Existing systems often require complex cleaning procedures or are prone to contamination. This device’s design allows easy disassembly and simplifies cleaning and reusability.
- Many conventional devices are limited to fixed droplet sizes, while this invention allows for adjustable droplet sizes, enhancing customization and control.
- The device is simple to fabricate with low-cost materials and is durable for long-term use, unlike high-cost or precision-required devices.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
Research Lab
Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy
Department of Chemical Engineering
Prof. Basavaraja Madivala Gurappa
Department of Chemical Engineering
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref 2496
- IN 457547 Patent Granted
Technology Readiness Level
TRL 4
Technology Validated in Lab