Microfluidic Approaches for Designing Multifunctional Polymeric Microparticles from Simple Emulsions to Complex Particles

This chapter focuses on introducing microfluidic approaches for the formation of multifunctional polymeric microparticles from simple microspheres to complex microparticles. It provides a brief introduction to dimensionless numbers and three fluidic regimes in microfluidics that depend on hydrodynamic parameters. The chapter discusses the formation of complex emulsions and functional microparticles controlled by hydrodynamic parameters, phase separation, and spreading coefficients. It also discusses major parameters to control the flow status from dripping to jetting in each microfluidic device. The chapter describes the formation of complex emulsions and the synthesis of new functional particles using microfluidic technology. Microfluidic devices also offer the capability to control the size, number, and compositions of inner droplets by varying the flow rates of various fluids and controlling the dimensions of the microchannel. The chapter concludes with several efficient design routes for obtaining functional particles and provides perspectives on the future development of miciofluidic devices.