The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

 Microfluidic platforms enable the generation of uniform micrometer-scale particles through precise control of interfacial dynamics between immiscible fluids. By tailoring device architectures and flow conditions, highly monodisperse droplets with diverse configurations can be produced. These droplets act as versatile templates that can be converted from liquid precursors into solid or gelled particles via polymerization and crosslinking reactions, allowing the fabrication of well-defined polymeric materials such as hydrogels.
 Double-network hydrogels, composed of two independently crosslinked and interpenetrating polymer networks, provide an effective strategy to overcome the mechanical weakness and brittleness of conventional single-network hydrogels. In this study, hydrogels are fabricated by integrating an ionically crosslinked alginate network with a covalently crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) network formed through photopolymerization. The resulting hybrid network architecture enhances mechanical integrity and structural robustness, highlighting the potential of microfluidic-assisted hydrogel fabrication for advanced soft material applications.