Langmuir, Vol.29, No.26, 8385-8394, 2013
Flow-Directed Loading of Block Copolymer Micelles with Hydrophobic Probes in a Gas-Liquid Microreactor
We investigate the loading efficiencies of two chemically distinct hydrophobic fluorescent probes, pyrene and naphthalene, for self-assembly and loading of polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA) micelles in gas-liquid segmented microfluidic reactors under different chemical and flow conditions. On-chip loading efficiencies are compared to values obtained via off-chip dropwise water addition to a solution of copolymer and probe. On-chip, probe loading efficiencies depend strongly on the chemical probe, initial solvent, water content, and flow rate. For pyrene and naphthalene probes, maximum on chip loading efficiencies of 73 +/- 6% and 11 +/- 3%, respectively, are obtained, in both cases using the more polar solvent (DMF), an intermediate water content (2 wt % above critical), and a low flow rate (similar to 5 mu L/min); these values are compared to 81 +/- 6% and 48 +/- 2%, respectively, for off chip loading On chip loading shows a significant improvement over the off-chip process where shear-induced formation of smaller micelles enables increased encapsulation of probe. As well, we show that on chip loading allows off chip release kinetics to be controlled via flow rate: compared to vehicles produced at similar to 5 mu L/min, pyrene release kinetics from vehicles produced at similar to 50 mu L/min showed a longer initial period of burst release, followed by slow release over a longer total period. These results demonstrate the necessity to match probes, solvents, and running conditions to achieve effective loading, which is essential information for further developing these on chip platforms for manufacturing drug delivery formulations.