Abstract
Nanoparticles have gained large interest in a number of different fields due to their unique properties. In medical applications, for example, magnetic nanoparticles can be used for targeting, imaging, magnetically induced thermotherapy, or for any combination of the three. However, it is still a challenge to obtain narrowly dispersed, reproducible particles through a typical lab-scale synthesis when researching these materials. Here, we present a droplet capillary reactor that can be used for the synthesis of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Compared to conventional batch synthesis, the particles synthesized in our droplet reactor have a narrower size distribution and a higher reproducibility. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the particle size can be changed from 5.2 ± 0.9 nm to 11.8 ± 1.7 nm by changing the reaction temperature and droplet residence time in the droplet capillary reactor.
Highlights
Due to their small size and large surface area, nanoparticles offer interactions with biological systems that classical bulk materials cannot provide [1]
To decrease the complexity of microfluidic devices, and to make the technology more accessible to untrained users, devices made from simple tubing and capillaries have been suggested [30]. Through these advantages provided by microfluidic droplet reactors, it should be possible to synthesize the particles with narrower size distributions and higher reproducibility compared to conventional batch synthesis [31]
The droplet capillary reactor was made from Tygon tubing and fused silica capillaries
Summary
Due to their small size and large surface area, nanoparticles offer interactions with biological systems that classical bulk materials cannot provide [1]. Through these advantages provided by microfluidic droplet reactors, it should be possible to synthesize the particles with narrower size distributions and higher reproducibility compared to conventional batch synthesis [31]. In the specific case of the coprecipitation of iron oxide, nanoparticles inside of droplets should have significant benefits due to the fast mixing and thermal control compared to batch synthesis.
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