Size-Controlled Fabrication of Polydiacetylene-Embedded Microfibers on a Microfluidic Chip.

Yoo, Imsung; Song, Simon; Yoon, Bora; Kim, Jong-Man

A microfluidic technique was employed to fabricate polydiacetylene (PDA)-embedded hydrogel microfibers. By taking advantage of calcium ion-induced insoluble hydrogel formation, supramolecularly assembled diacetylene (DA)-surfactant complexes were successfully immobilized in the calcium alginate fibers. Thus, instantaneous microfiber formation was observed when the core flow of DA supramolecules-containing alginate solution met the sheath flow of calcium ions. UV irradiation of the resulting fibers afforded blue colored PDAs, and the formation of a conjugated polymer was confirmed by heat-induced phase transition and by Raman spectroscopy. By adjusting the core and sheath flow rates, PDA-embedded hydrogel fibers of various sizes were obtained.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 2012, Vol 33, Issue 15, p1256

1022-1336

Academic Journal

10.1002/marc.201200073