Microfluidic Devices for the analysis of protein functions with monodisperse liposomes

在这项研究中，我们研究了一种高效生产单分散脂质体的装置。为了制备脂质体，我们研究了两种不同的方法：电铸法和常规的温和水化法制备。我们发现，用常规方法制备的脂质体相对较小，并且多个脂质体被包裹在另一个脂质体中。另一方面，由于电铸法制备的脂质体大多为巨型脂质体，没有将脂质体包裹在内，因此，我们尝试利用微流控装置进行乳化来制备单分散脂质体，为脂质体的生产提供新的技术途径。为了制备W/O/W乳状液，一般需要改变微流控流道的润湿性能。在这里，我们设计并制作了轴对称流动聚焦装置，并成功地制备了W/O/W乳状液。这种方法可用于通过减薄有机溶剂层来制备脂质双层囊泡。此外，微流控装置适用于制备单分散囊泡。因此，我们认为这项技术可能是生产单分散脂质体的一条途径。

In this research, we have studied a device for the efficient production of monodisperse liposomes. To prepare the liposomes, we have investigated two different methods : electroformation and conventional gentle-hydration method. We found that the liposomes produced by the conventional method were relatively small size, and several liposomes were enclosed inside another liposome. On the other hand, the liposomes formed by electroformation were mostly giant liposomes and did not enclose liposomes inside.Through these results, we have tried to make monodisperse liposomes by using microfluidic devices for emulsification, towards new technology of liposome production. It is general to change the wetting properties of the microfluidic channel for making W/O/W emulsions. Here, we have designed and fabricated axisymetric flow-focusing devices, and succeeded in making W/O/W emulsions. This method can be useful for making lipid bilayer vesicles by thinning the layer of organic solvent. Moreover, microfluidic devices are suitable for making monodisperse vesicles. We thus believe that this technology could be a route to the production of monodisperse liposomes.