Aqueous Solution Of Sodium Alginate Research Articles

Nanoencapsulation of Bixin and Norbixin in Sodium Alginate: Preparation, Characterization, and Release in Food Simulant

Aims: Bixin and norbixin are natural antioxidants used as pigments in the food industry, but their chemical structure makes them susceptible to environmental factors (light, oxygen, and temperature). Background: Nanoencapsulation techniques can improve the stability and solubility of these compounds in addition to reducing particle size which can increase surface:volume ratio and provide many attractive and unique properties to the nanoparticles. Objective: In this study, sodium alginate was used as wall material for the encapsulation of bixin and norbixin in different concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 g/g of biopolymer), by emulsification/internal gelation method. Methods: The emulsification/internal gelation method was used to elaborate bixin or norbixin-loaded nanospheres. The internal phase of the water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion was prepared with an aqueous solution of sodium alginate (1.5% w/v – 40 mL), 0.12 g of CaCO3, bixin or norbixin pigments, and mechanically stirred for 15 min at 700 rpm. Results: Nanospheres containing the highest concentration of both carotenoids showed better encapsulation efficiency, with 37.86% for bixin and 51.47% for norbixin, and these formulations were used for characterization analyses. The mean size of the nanospheres was 741.9 ± 41.0 nm, 622.9 ± 71.0 nm, and 589.5 ± 99.1 nm for control particles, bixin, and norbixin, respectively. The addition of both carotenoids resulted in particles with a yellow-red color, which demonstrates the encapsulation of natural antioxidants. The thermal analysis results may indicate an increase in the thermal stability of the pigments after encapsulation, in addition, the nanospheres exhibited the ability to scavenge the ABTS+ radical. Carotenoids release test in food simulant (95% ethanol) presented a rapid release in the first hours and maintenance of concentration for 10 days. Conclusion: Results showed that these nanospheres could be an alternative to the application of these carotenoid pigments in food matrices and food packaging.

Droplet Microfluidics-Assisted Fabrication of Shape Controllable Iron-Alginate Microgels with Fluorescent Property.

Droplet-based microfluidics-assisted fabrication of alginate microgels has extensive applications in biomaterials, biomedicines, and related fields. This approach is typically achieved by crosslinking droplets of an aqueous solution of sodium alginate with various divalent and trivalent ions, such as Ca2+, Ba2+, Sr2+, etc. Despite the exceptional features exhibited by bulk alginate hydrogels when using iron ions as the crosslinking reagent, including stimulus responsiveness and complex chemistry, no attention has been given to studying the fabrication of Fe-alginate microgels through droplet microfluidics. In this work, a facile method is presented for fabricating Fe-alginate microgels using single emulsion droplets as templates and an off-chip crosslinking technique to solidify the droplets. The morphologies of the resulting microgels can be systematically adjusted by manipulating different parameters such as viscosities and ionic strength of the collecting solutions. It should be noted that these resulting microgels undergo a color change from light brown to dark brown due to presumed self-oxidation of iron ions within their skeleton structure. Furthermore, these Fe-alginate microgels are functionalized by decorating them with a positively charged linear polymer via electrostatic interactions to impart them with stable fluorescent property. These functionalized Fe-alginate microgels may find potential applications in drug delivery carriers and biomimetic structures.

Feasibility of Invasive Brown Seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae as Source of Alginate: Characterization of Products and Evaluation of Derived Gels.

Rugulopteryx okamurae (RO) is an invasive brown seaweed that causes severe environmental problems in the Mediterranean Sea. This work proposed an extraction method that enables their use as a raw material for producing sodium alginate. Alginate was successfully extracted from this invasive seaweed, with its gelling performance in the presence of Ca2+ ions comparable to existing commercial alginates. The mannuronic acid (M)-to-guluronic (G) acid ratio in the 1H-NMR profile indicated a higher percentage of G in the RO-extracted alginate, which implies a greater formation of so-called egg box structures. These differences resulted in their different rheological behaviour, as sodium alginate aqueous solutions exhibited a greater viscosity (η at 1 s-1 = 3.8 ± 0.052 Pa·s) than commercial alginate (2.8 ± 0.024 Pa·s), which is related to the egg box structure developed. When gelled in the presence of calcium, an increase in the value of the elastic modulus was observed. However, the value of the tan δ for the extracted alginate was lower than that of commercial alginate gels, confirming a structure more densely packed, which implies a different restructuring of the alginate chain when gelling. These results confirm the suitability of using invasive Rugulopteryx okamurae as a source of calcium alginate gels. In this way, sustainable bio-based materials may be produced from undesired biomass that currently poses a threat to the ecosystem.

Identification of lubricant viscosity to minimize the frictional impact of colonoscopy on colonic mucosa

Applying a lubricant to the colonic mucosa and reducing the dynamic friction coefficient (DFC) between the endoscopic shaft and colonic mucosa may reduce colonoscopy invasiveness. However, the ideal lubricant viscosity remains unknown. Here, we developed a DFC measurement model integrating samples of colonic mucosa from forensic autopsy specimens into a simulated bowel bend and determined the low-friction lubricant viscosity that minimizes the DFC. Carboxymethyl cellulose, xanthan gum, hydroxyethyl cellulose, sodium alginate, and sodium polyacrylate aqueous solutions of various concentrations were used as lubricants. Low-friction lubricants minimized the load on the colonic mucosa during colonoscope insertion and reduced the total endoscopy insertion time. The highest correlation was between the DFC and the lubricant viscosity at a shear rate of 100 1/s. The lowest DFC was almost constant at approximately 0.09, irrespective of the chemical composition of the lubricant, and the low-friction lubricant viscosity (100 1/s) was 0.031–0.086 (median: 0.059). The viscosities of conventional colonoscopic lubricants were suitable for lubricating the anorectal skin owing to their low DFC, but too high for lubricating the colonic mucosa because of their high DFC. The utilization of the low-friction lubricants with the optimal viscosity can reduce the stress on colonic mucosa during colonoscopy.

Application of modified sodium alginate hydrogel for interventional embolization of hemorrhagic diseases

Traditional particulate embolic agents are small in diameter, but can easily embolize the ends of blood vessels, resulting in ischemia and necrosis of normal tissues and organs. The metal spring embolic agent has a larger diameter, but it cannot be degraded and can easily cause permanent damage to blood vessels. Ideally, a bleeding embolism should achieve rapid hemostasis without causing long-term necrosis of organs and tissues. In this study, a modified sodium alginate hydrogel (MSAH) was prepared by mixing an oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) aqueous solution with a carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) aqueous solution at a ratio of 1:6 in a 38°C bath for 8 min. The feasibility of this modified hydrogel was then tested in an internal iliac artery hemorrhage model using New Zealand rabbits. The MSAH had good adhesion. The hydrogel was injected through a single curved 4F catheter without obvious effects on uterine smooth muscle cell proliferation and apoptosis. The blood flow of the internal iliac artery was restored by long-term degradation of the sodium alginate hydrogel, and no ischemia and necrosis were observed by histopathology. The MSAH prepared using a mixture of OSA and CMC had good adhesion, biocompatibility, and injectability and could be used for target-vessel embolization in an internal iliac artery hemorrhage model. The MSAH can achieve main artery embolization without affecting the peripheral artery blood supply, resulting in both short-term rapid hemostasis and long-term degradation, with no target organ necrosis.

Blood Coagulation Activities of Cotton-Alginate-Copper Composites.

Alginate-based materials have gained significant attention in the medical industry due to their biochemical properties. In this article, we aimed to synthesize Cotton-Alginate-Copper Composite Materials (COT-Alg(-)Cu(2+)). The main purpose of this study was to assess the biochemical properties of new composites in the area of blood plasma coagulation processes, including activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT). This study also involved in vitro antimicrobial activity evaluation of materials against representative colonies of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and antifungal susceptibility tests. The materials were prepared by immersing cotton fibers in an aqueous solution of sodium alginate, followed by ionic cross-linking of alginate chains within the fibers with Cu(II) ions to yield antimicrobial activity. The results showed that the obtained cotton-alginate-copper composites were promising materials to be used in biomedical applications, e.g., wound dressing.

Preparation of emulsion hydrogels encapsulating extractant by the Pickering emulsion template method to recover lanthanum ions in aqueous solutions

Abstract To solve the problem of liquid–liquid extraction of La(III), the oil-in-water Pickering emulsions were prepared by utilizing the aqueous solution of sodium alginate as the continuous phase, kerosene-diluted extractant di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (P204) as the dispersed phase, and modified silica as an emulsifier. Then the emulsions were added to a calcium chloride solution to prepare the Pickering emulsion hydrogels (PEHGs) to better remove La(III). The PEHGs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption properties of PEHGs for La(III) in the aqueous solution were investigated using a UV–vis spectrophotometer. The study found that P204 was successfully coated by hydrogels and reached the highest adsorption capacity of 48 mg/g at pH 4. The amount of adsorption increased with the rise in temperature from 298 to 318 K. La(III) adsorption experimental data were more consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption of La(III) by PEHGs was a spontaneous endothermic process. The internal diffusion model revealed a linear relationship, indicating that internal diffusion played a role in the adsorption process. The encapsulating property of PEHGs indicated its potential usefulness in industrial wastewater for treating La(III).

Robotically 3D printed architectural membranes from ambient dried cellulose nanofibril-alginate hydrogel

Cellulose nanofibril hydrogel mixed with an aqueous solution of sodium alginate is a novel bio-based material suitable for 3D printing of lightweight membranes with exquisite properties and sustainable traits. However, fundamental knowledge enabling its applications in architectural design is still missing. Hence, this study examines the macro-scale features of lightweight membranes from cellulose nanofibril-alginate hydrogel, relevant for the design of various interior architectural products, such as wall claddings, ceiling tiles, room partitions, tapestries, and window screens. Through iterative prototyping experiments involving robotic 3D printing of lightweight membranes, their upscaling potential is demonstrated. Correlations between toolpath designs and shrinkages are also characterized, alongside an in-depth analysis of coloration changes upon ambient drying. Further, the tunability potential of various architectural features, enabled by bespoke 3D printing toolpath design, is discussed and exemplified. The aim is to expose the wide palette of design possibilities for cellulose nanofibril-alginate membranes, encompassing variations in curvature, porosity, translucency, texture, patterning, pliability, and feature sizes. The results comprise an important knowledge foundation for the design and manufacturing of custom lightweight architectural products from cellulose nanofibril-alginate hydrogel. These products could be applied in a variety of new bio-based, sustainable interior building systems, replacing environmentally harmful, fossil-based solutions.

Aerosol assisted synthesis of a pH responsive curcumin anticancer drug nanocarrier using chitosan and alginate natural polymers

In recent years, several nanocarrier synthesis methods have been developed. In cancer therapy, the use of smart nanocarriers is of interest. Smart nanocarriers respond to their environment and can release their cargo in a controlled manner under the action of internal or external stimuli. In this work, we report on the development of an aerosol-assisted method for the synthesis of curcumin-loaded chitosan/alginate-based polymeric nanocarrier (CurNCs). A custom-fabricated multi-nebulizer system was utilized for the synthesis of CurNCs. The developed system comprises three main parts a sprayer, an electric heater tunnel, and a collector. Curcumin and chitosan solutions were sprayed using a pneumatic multinebulizer into the electric heater tunnel to form chitosan-curcumin assemblies. Then, the aerosol was guided into the collector solution containing sodium alginate and tri-poly phosphate aqueous solution for further cross-linkage. The synthesized CurNCs were characterized using TEM, DLS, and FTIR techniques. The TEM size of the nanoparticles was 8.62 ± 2.25 nm. The release experiments revealed that the nanocarrier is sensitive to the environment pH as more curcumin is released at acidic pH values (as is the case for cancerous tissues) compared to physiological pH. The curcumin content of the nanocarrier was 77.27 mg g−1 with a drug loading efficiency of 62%. The in-vitro cytotoxicity of the synthesized nanocarrier was evaluated against the MCF7 breast cancer cell line. The IC50 concentrations for CurNCs and curcumin were obtained as 14.86 and 16.45 mg mL−1, respectively. The results showed that while the empty nanocarrier shows non-significant cytotoxicity, the CurNCs impact the cell culture and cause prolonged cell deaths. Overall, pH-responsive curcumin polymeric nanocarrier was synthesized using a custom fabricated aerosol-based method. The method enabled fast and feasible synthesis of the nanocarrier with high efficiency.

Dynamics of droplet generation in a wedge-shaped step-emulsification microchannel

The droplet generation in a wedge-shaped step-emulsification microchannel is investigated experimentally and the generation dynamics of dripping flow as a main applicable flow regime is primarily studied. The sodium alginate aqueous solution and liquid paraffin are used as dispersed phase and continuous phase respectively. The droplet generation process is divided into four stages: two-dimensional retracting stage, two-dimensional spreading stage, three-dimensional necking stage, and three-dimensional pinch-off stage. The head of the dispersed phase retracts and spreads faster under higher dispersed phase flow rate or viscosity. The critical neck width between the necking and the pinch-off stages is independent of the dispersed phase flow rate and viscosity. With the increase of dispersed phase flow rate, the droplet size increases while its formation period decreases. The droplet size and formation period increase with the increase in the dispersed phase viscosity. The flow regime of droplet generation relies primarily on the flow rate ratio and viscosities. A correlation is proposed for predicting the droplet size.

Coloration on Bluish Alginate Films with Amorphous Heterogeneity Thereof.

Using sodium alginate (Alg) aqueous solution containing indigo carmine (IdC) at various concentrations we characterized the rippled surface pattern with micro-spacing on a flexible film as intriguing bluish Alg-IdC iridescence. The characterization was performed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, and photoluminescence detection. The edge pattern on the film had a maximum depth of 825 nm, a peak-to-peak distance of 63.0 nm, and an average distance of 2.34 nm. The center of the pattern had a maximum depth of 343 nm and a peak-to-peak distance of 162 nm. The pattern spacing rippled irregularly, widening toward the center and narrowing toward the edges. The rippled nano-patterned areas effectively generated iridescence. The ultraviolet absorption spectra of the mixture in the 270 and 615 nm ranges were the same for both the iridescent and non-iridescent film surfaces. By adding Ag+ ions to Alg-IdC, self-assembled microspheres were formed, and conductivity was improved. Cross-linked bluish materials were immediately formed by the addition of Ca2+ ions, and the film was prepared by controlling their concentration. This flexible film can be used in applications such as eco-friendly camouflage, anti-counterfeiting, QR code materials for imaging/sensing, and smart hybrid displays.

Гибридный гель для замены твердых жиров в кондитерских изделиях

The World Health Organization recommends reducing the intake of saturated fatty acids. However, a direct replacement of solid fats with liquid oils affects the technological and consumer properties of food. The research objective was to develop a hybrid gel with a dense structure based on oleogel and hydrogel to replace saturated fats in semi-finished confectionery products.
 The study featured samples of oleogel from sunflower oil and beeswax at a concentration of 10, 15, and 20% and hybrid gels prepared by mixing the oleogel with a 2% aqueous solution of sodium alginate at ratios of 99:1, 95:5, and 90:10. The samples were tested for strength, adhesive power, viscosity index, consistency, and Young modulus using a TA-XT Plus texture analyzer (Stable Micro Systems Ltd., UK). The water activity was studied using a water activity analyzer LabMaster (Novasina, Lab Master, Switzerland).
 The oleogel samples with wax concentrations of 20 and 15% demonstrated good adhesive strength. The best hybrid gel was the oleogel with 20% wax at the ratio of 95:5 to hydrogel. This ratio resulted in a considerable gel strength (≤ 408.222) while maintaining a dense and uniform texture (Young modulus ≤ 17.05) for a long time. The oleogels had low moisture content (Aw = 0.6 ± 0). The shelf life at 4–10°C was 6 months. The samples had good sensory properties, i.e., clear taste and smell, strong uniform structure and consistency, etc. The paper introduces a formulation for a semi-finished confectionery product with a hybrid gel instead of 30% cocoa butter substitute.
 Hybrid gels can be recommended as a substitute for cocoa butter or confectionery fats to reduce the amount of saturated and trans fatty acids. Such a replacement improves the consumer properties of semi-finished and finished products.

Microencapsulation of a Pickering Oil/Water Emulsion Loaded with Vitamin D3.

The ionotropic gelation technique was chosen to produce vitamin D3-loaded microparticles starting from oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsion stabilized by flaxseed flour: the hydrophobic phase was a solution of vitamin D3 in a blend of vegetable oils (ω6:ω3, 4:1) composed of extra virgin olive oil (90%) and hemp oil (10%); the hydrophilic phase was a sodium alginate aqueous solution. The most adequate emulsion was selected carrying out a preliminary study on five placebo formulations which differed in the qualitative and quantitative polymeric composition (concentration and type of alginate selected). Vitamin D3-loaded microparticles in the dried state had a particle size of about 1 mm, 6% of residual water content and excellent flowability thanks to their rounded shape and smooth surface. The polymeric structure of microparticles demonstrated to preserve the vegetable oil blend from oxidation and the integrity of vitamin D3, confirming this product as an innovative ingredient for pharmaceutical and food/nutraceutical purposes.

Functionally integrated self-healable and redox bromide-ion additive hydrogel electrolyte for Zn-ion hybrid supercapacitors

Functional energy storage devices are usually dependent on functional hydrogel electrolytes, due to their high conductivity, flexibility and special functionality. However, the function of hydrogel electrolytes mostly depends on the functional groups of the polymer chain or their interaction with ions. The compatibility of function and electrochemical performance is the key to building a functional hydrogel electrolyte. In this study, a functionally integrated self-healable and redox bromide-ion additive hydrogel electrolyte (SAM-Zn) was synthesized based on a natural polymer backbone (sodium alginate aqueous solution), which exhibits outstanding self-healing ability and excellent mechanical properties. When SAM-Zn is assembled into Zn-ion hybrid supercapacitors (SAM-ZHS), which can achieve 219.4 mA h g−1 at a wider voltage window (0–2.6 V), higher energy density of 210 Wh kg−1 at 1914.6 W kg−1. Besides, the self-healed SAM-ZHS displayed excellent cycling stability after 2,000 cycles with 96.8% capacity retention. This work provides a simple strategy for the combination of self-healing properties and excellent electrochemical properties in hydrogel electrolytes.

Temporary hydraulic barriers using organic gel for enhanced aquifer remediation during groundwater flushing: Bench-scale experiments

This study presents the use of organic gel-forming material for the construction of hydraulic barriers in aquifer, which can be easily removed after use. Experiments on the performance of the temporary hydraulic barrier during NAPL removal (aquifer flushing) were also conducted. An aqueous solution of sodium alginate was injected into the horizontally oriented, 2-dimensional flow chamber packed with sand, followed by gelation using a calcium solution. The alginate gel formed in the porous media produced a circular shape barrier (24 cm diameter, 1.3 cm thickness) that was successfully removed using sodium bicarbonate solution (1.0 M) in 72 h, whereas the gel was stable for 7 days during simulated groundwater flushing at the same flow rate as the sodium bicarbonate solution. When circular hydraulic barriers (12 cm diameter each, 14 cm apart) were set on either side of the NAPL (n-hexane and PCE mixture)-contaminated zone, the increased water flux during water flushing resulted in significantly increased PCE removal by almost 108%. When a surfactant solution (sodium dodecyl sulfate, 0.037%) was applied, the influenced groundwater flow controlled by hydraulic barriers on the NAPL removal was amplified by 196% removal.

MRI on a new polymeric multichannel membrane for ultrafiltration

Membrane ultrafiltration in new polymeric multi-channel membranes designed for in-out filtration was investigated to get insights into structure, flow and filtration properties. The apparent novelty of the membrane concerns the geometry and configuration of the feed channels.In-situmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows non-invasive and non-destructive investigations with adequate spatial and time resolution. The structure of the new polymeric membrane was measured with an in-plane spatial resolution of 35 µm/pixel revealing first the polymer density distribution over the 19-channel membrane and second the wettability of the fiber and its cavities of different dimensions. MRI was also used to answer questions about flow and consequently feed distribution in the channels. Finally,in-situfiltration of an aqueous solution of sodium alginate was observed which led to deposit formation at the channel’s inner surfaces. The kinetics of this deposit formation was quantified. Backwashing and flushing gave insight into the cleanability of the channels.

Multiscale investigation of viscoelastic properties of aqueous solutions of sodium alginate and evaluation of their biocompatibility.

In order to get better knowledge of mechanical properties from microscopic to macroscopic scale of biopolymers, viscoelastic bulk properties of aqueous solutions of sodium alginate were studied at different scales by combining macroscopic shear rheology (Hz), diffusing-wave spectroscopy microrheology (kHz-MHz) and Brillouin spectroscopy (GHz). Structural properties were also directly probed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The results demonstrate a change from polyelectrolyte behavior to neutral polymer behavior by increasing polymer concentration with the determination of characteristic sizes (persistence length, correlation length). The viscoelastic properties probed at the phonon wavelength much higher than the ones obtained at low frequency reflect the variation of microscopic viscosity. First experiments obtained by metabolic activity assays with mouse embryonic fibroblasts showed biocompatibility of sodium alginate aqueous solutions in the studied range of concentrations (2.5-10 g L-1) and consequently their potential biomedical applications.

Photochemically induced formation of adhesive hydrogels from sodium alginate, acrylamide, and iron sandwich complexes.

Visible light irradiation of an aqueous solution of sodium alginate and organometallic complex [(C5H5)Fe(toluene)]BF4 transforms it into a rigid hydrogel due to crosslinking of the carboxylate groups by the iron ions. Irradiation of the same iron complex together with K2S2O8 initiates the polymerization of acrylamide, which provides an efficient method for light-controlled one-step preparation of alginate-polyacrylamide double network hydrogels, which are capable of gluing wet glass with 100-200 kPa shear strength.

Влияние сшивающих агентов на матриксные свойства гидрогелевых структур на основе альгината натрия

A comparative study of gelation processes in aqueous solutions of sodium alginate initiated by their chemical crosslinking with divalent ions Ca2+ or Ba2+ was carried out. 3D cryoprinted hydrogel scaffolds of certain architectonics were formed from the studied compositions containing various concentrations of crosslinking agents. It is shown that the increase in the crosslinking agent concentration from 2 to 10 wt. % leads to the improvement in the strength characteristics of alginate structures. At the same time, scaffolds crosslinked with 10 % aqueous solutions of both CaCl2 and BaCl2 retain their structural stability during 21 days of incubation in a culture medium at a temperature of 37 °C. During in vitro experiments on cultures of mesenchymal stem cells derived from rat adipose tissue, samples crosslinked with Ba2+ ions were found to demonstrate a moderate cytotoxic effect and showed their inability to maintain cell adhesion, unlike non-toxic scaffolds crosslinked in CaCl2 aqueous solutions. In vivo analysis of experimental samples on an intramuscular implantation model for male Wistar rats also confirmed moderate cytotoxicity of alginate scaffolds formed using Ba2+ ions as crosslinking agents. The results obtained allow us to assert that of all the studied by us materials, sodium alginate crosslinked with a 10% CaCl2 aqueous solution can be considered the most promising for various biomedical applications.

On the features of breaking a microjet of dilute polymer solution into main and satellite microdroplets under external vibration perturbation

An experimental study of the morphology of the laminar microjet flow of diluted aqueous solutions of sodium alginate without and with the addition of hydroxyethyl cellulose after a nozzle subject to external vibration stimulation by the action of the reverse piezoelectric effect was carried out. We studied the influence of the polymer concentration in the solution (0.5-5 mg/ml), the flow rate of the liquid (4-26 ml/min), and the frequency of the current of external perturbation (0-1.2 kHz) on the capillary crushing of the microjet with a diameter of about 210 um in the range of Ohnesorge numbers from 0.046 to 1.88 and Reynolds numbers 0.7 to 470. The modes of microjet flow and crushing on microdroplets with indication of boundaries of transitions between them are selected, and a general map of modes is built. Taking into account the polymer concentration in the solution, the dependence of the microjet fracture length on its velocity is shown. The conditions of monodisperse microjet destruction with equidistant arrangement of the main microdroplets in the flow are determined, which are related to an optimal balance between the molecular mass of the polymer in the solution, the intensity of external disturbance and the time of stress relaxation in polymer viscoelastic microjets. The role of formation of structures such as "beads-on-filament" in capillary destruction of microjet with identification of cases of absence of occurrence of "satellite" microdroplets from liquid threads between the main microdroplets has been studied. The results are applied to technologies based on in-air microfluidics (bioengineering and additive technologies), dealing with heterogeneous fluids with viscoelastic properties. Keywords: Plateau-Rayleigh instability, reverse piezoelectric effect, monodisperse breakup, relaxation time, microjet flow.