Emulsions and Techniques for Formation

• US 20090012187A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation)
• Original Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation)
• Inventors: Weitz, David A., Shum, Ho Cheung, Santanach Carreras, Enric, Chu, Liang-Yin, Utada, Andrew S., Fernandez-Nieves, Alberto
• Granted Patent: US 7,776,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 516/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/113 Multiple emulsions, e.g. oil-in-water-in-oil A61K9/0026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/5089 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2025/915 Reverse flow, i.e. flow changing substantially 180° in direction
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/41 Emulsifying
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/313 wherein additional components are introduced in the centre of the conduit
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3011 using a sheathing stream of a fluid surrounding a central stream of a different fluid, e.g. for reducing the cross-section of the central stream or to produce droplets from the central stream
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/81 Combinations of similar mixers, e.g. with rotary stirring devices in two or more receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/811 in two or more consecutive, i.e. successive, mixing receptacles or being consecutively arranged
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 13/14 Polymerisation; cross-linking
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 23/00 Use of substances as emulsifying, wetting, dispersing, or foam-producing agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1404 Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1006 for cytology
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2998 including synthetic resin or polymer

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to emulsions such as multiple emulsions, and to methods and apparatuses for making emulsions, and techniques for using the same. A multiple emulsion generally describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein which, in some cases, can contain even smaller droplets therein, etc. Emulsions, including multiple emulsions can be formed in certain embodiments with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored to include any number of inner droplets, in any desired nesting arrangement, within a single outer droplet. In addition, in some aspects of the invention, one or more droplets may be controllably released from a surrounding droplet.

Claims

1. An article, comprising:

a plurality of outer fluidic droplets, substantially all of the outer fluidic droplets each containing two or more first fluidic droplets each containing one or more second fluidic droplets, wherein each of the plurality of first fluidic droplets contains substantially the same number of second fluidic droplets therein.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the outer fluid and the first fluid are substantially immiscible.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein the first fluid and second fluid are substantially immiscible.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein the outer fluid and third fluid are substantially miscible.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein substantially all of the outer fluidic droplets each contain three or more first fluidic droplets.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein substantially all of the first fluidic droplets each contain two or more second fluidic droplets.

7. The article of claim 1, wherein substantially all of the first fluidic droplets each contain three or more second fluidic droplets.

8. The article of claim 1, wherein at least about 90% of the outer fluidic droplets each contain two or more first fluidic droplets.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein at least about 90% of the outer fluidic droplets each contain the same number of first fluidic droplets therein.

10. The article of claim 1, wherein at least about 90% of the plurality of first fluidic droplets each contain the same number of second fluidic droplets therein.

16. The article of claim 1, wherein at least some of the second fluidic droplets contain a species therein.

17. The article of claim 16, wherein the species is selected from the group consisting of cells, drugs, nucleic acids, proteins, fragrances, nanoparticles, or quantum dots.

18. The article of claim 16, wherein at least about 90% of the second fluidic droplets each contain the species.

11-15. -15. (canceled)

19-24. -24. (canceled)

25. An article, comprising:

a plurality of outer fluidic droplets, substantially all of the outer fluidic droplets containing one or more first fluidic droplets each containing two or more second fluidic droplets.

26. The article of claim 25, wherein at least about 90% of the outer fluidic droplets each contain two or more first fluidic droplets.

27. The article of claim 25, wherein at least about 90% of the plurality of outer fluidic droplets each contain the same number of first fluidic droplets therein.

28. The article of claim 25, wherein at least about 90% of the plurality of first fluidic droplets each contain the same number of second fluidic droplets therein.

29-40. -40. (canceled)

41. A method of packaging a species comprising:

suspending a species in a first fluid;

flowing the first fluid in a stream surrounded by a second fluid stream, the second fluid being substantially immiscible with the first fluid;

introducing a third fluid stream that surrounds the second fluid stream; and

forming multiple droplets of the first fluid, each contained within a second fluidic droplet, wherein the droplets contain at least one of the species.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising solidifying a portion of the second fluid surrounding the droplets of the first fluid.

48. The method of claim 41, comprising solidifying at least a portion of the droplets of the first fluid.

42. (canceled)

44-47. -47. (canceled)

49-80. -80. (canceled)