Nanomaterials Synthesis through Microfluidic Methods: An Updated Overview

Niculescu, Adelina-Gabriela; Chircov, Cristina; Bîrcă, Alexandra Cătălina; Grumezescu, Alexandru Mihai

doi:10.3390/nano11040864

Cited by 105 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 175 publications

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“…Microfluidic devices enable large-scale synthesis of nanoparticles and better control over their preparation [ 78 , 79 ], however, scaling-up can be challenging as it requires chip parallelization or channel diameter increase [ 39 ]. The high costs of setting up the microfluidic devices for industrial scale-up, as well as technical issues (e.g., channels clogging [ 78 , 80 ]), are among potential barriers to their implementation. Thus, despite numerous advantages of microfluidics technology, batch methods (including modified desolvation method) are still attractive in terms of their industrial application [ 39 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modified Desolvation Method Enables Simple One-Step Synthesis of Gelatin Nanoparticles from Different Gelatin Types with Any Bloom Values

et al. 2021

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Gelatin nanoparticles found numerous applications in drug delivery, bioimaging, immunotherapy, and vaccine development as well as in biotechnology and food science. Synthesis of gelatin nanoparticles is usually made by a two-step desolvation method, which, despite providing stable and homogeneous nanoparticles, has many limitations, namely complex procedure, low yields, and poor reproducibility of the first desolvation step. Herein, we present a modified one-step desolvation method, which enables the quick, simple, and reproducible synthesis of gelatin nanoparticles. Using the proposed method one can prepare gelatin nanoparticles from any type of gelatin with any bloom number, even with the lowest ones, which remains unattainable for the traditional two-step technique. The method relies on quick one-time addition of poor solvent (preferably isopropyl alcohol) to gelatin solution in the absence of stirring. We applied the modified desolvation method to synthesize nanoparticles from porcine, bovine, and fish gelatin with bloom values from 62 to 225 on the hundreds-of-milligram scale. Synthesized nanoparticles had average diameters between 130 and 190 nm and narrow size distribution. Yields of synthesis were 62–82% and can be further increased. Gelatin nanoparticles have good colloidal stability and withstand autoclaving. Moreover, they were non-toxic to human immune cells.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modified Desolvation Method Enables Simple One-Step Synthesis of Gelatin Nanoparticles from Different Gelatin Types with Any Bloom Values

et al. 2021

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“…Particularly, the risk of precipitation resulting in channel clogging is one of the most common problems encountered in microfluidic synthesis, requiring careful design of reactor and conditions (Figure 2) [50]. Despite this, as of today, metal, metal oxide, and polymer nanoparticles along with CDs have all been synthesized exploiting microfluidic reactors, highlighting a strong drive in this direction in the scientific community [51].…”

Section: Flow Chemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

New trends in nonconventional carbon dot synthesis

Bartolomei

Dosso

Prato

2021

Trends in Chemistry

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Carbon dots (CDs) are currently one of the hot topics in the nanomaterial world. Until recently, their preparation has been mostly based on solvothermal or hydrothermal syntheses requiring high temperatures, long reaction times, or toxic solvents. Moreover, the resulting materials are often affected by low reproducibility and difficult purification. A potential solution to these problems could be represented by innovative fields of chemistry, such as mechanochemistry, flow chemistry, and laser synthesis in the liquid phase. Machine learning could also be applied to go beyond the trial-and-error approach commonly used to explore the CD chemical space. In this review, we explore these recent approaches and their future potential to address some of the CD limitations, widening the range of properties and applications of these highly promising nanomaterials. Synthesis of carbon dots: current challengesCarbon dots (CDs) are currently one of the most studied carbon-based materials, due to their highly promising properties. CDs are carbon-based nanoparticles presenting dimensions <10 nm, emissions ranging over the whole visible spectrum, low toxicity, and long-term photo and colloidal stability [1,2]. Generally, CDs are synthesized following either a top-down or bottomup approach, with the latter more commonly used due to its superior versatility and accessibility [3]. In fact, CD synthesis mostly relies on hydrothermal or solvothermal treatment of relatively small molecular precursors (citric acid, amino acids, carbohydrates, anilines) involving either high temperatures/pressures, long reaction times, or toxic organic solvents [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. This approach is highly appreciated for the simple and economic set up and for the wide range of precursors that can be employed. An improvement in solvothermal synthesis has been achieved by using microwaves. This resulted in a great reduction of reaction times and solvent amount, mainly arising from a more controllable thermal transport [4,12]. Despite these advantages, the high temperatures needed (>150°C) result in multiple reaction pathways that are not clearly predictable, leading to extensive formation of by-products, which are often highly emissive (Figure 1) [13][14][15][16][17]. As a result, various papers identified the presence of molecular fluorophores in CD samples, highlighting the urgent need for more stringent purification protocols [18][19][20][21]23,25]. This aspect, together with irregular heat and mass transfer typical of batch synthesis, often contributes to the low reproducibility observed in CD preparation [4,22]. Furthermore, the procedures used to tailor the obtained materials are still based on a trial-and-error strategy. This approach is limited by the absence of predictability, resulting in long and difficult optimizations of the target properties and extensive time consumption. To go beyond these limitations, approaches able to increase the reproducibility of the synthesis and finely tailor the material characteristics are required. A poss...

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“…Moreover, microfluidics technology brings better control over the size, size distribution, morphology, and composition of the final products. Specifically, the size, polydispersity, and drug encapsulation can be simply tailored by varying experimental parameters such as flow rates, polymer composition, and polymer concentration [179].…”

Section: Polymeric Nanoparticles Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Polymer-Based Nanosystems—A Versatile Delivery Approach

Niculescu

Grumezescu

2021

Materials

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Polymer-based nanoparticles of tailored size, morphology, and surface properties have attracted increasing attention as carriers for drugs, biomolecules, and genes. By protecting the payload from degradation and maintaining sustained and controlled release of the drug, polymeric nanoparticles can reduce drug clearance, increase their cargo’s stability and solubility, prolong its half-life, and ensure optimal concentration at the target site. The inherent immunomodulatory properties of specific polymer nanoparticles, coupled with their drug encapsulation ability, have raised particular interest in vaccine delivery. This paper aims to review current and emerging drug delivery applications of both branched and linear, natural, and synthetic polymer nanostructures, focusing on their role in vaccine development.

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Nanomaterials Synthesis through Microfluidic Methods: An Updated Overview

Cited by 105 publications

References 175 publications

Modified Desolvation Method Enables Simple One-Step Synthesis of Gelatin Nanoparticles from Different Gelatin Types with Any Bloom Values

Modified Desolvation Method Enables Simple One-Step Synthesis of Gelatin Nanoparticles from Different Gelatin Types with Any Bloom Values

New trends in nonconventional carbon dot synthesis

Polymer-Based Nanosystems—A Versatile Delivery Approach

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