Engineered micro-/nanoparticles of various physicochemical properties play significant roles in biomedical engineering from biosensing, in vivo imaging, in vitro diagnosis, drug delivery to therapy. Compared to conventional batch synthesis, microfluidics-based synthesis enables precise reaction control, enhanced mixing, and rapid chemical reactions, allowing for the flow synthesis of particles in a controllable, sustainable, and costsaving manner that is attractive to industry. This review focuses on the recent advances of using microfluidic devices for the flow synthesis of inorganic micro-/nanoparticles with specific properties and their practical applications. We highlight the principle and the merits of emerging microfluidic techniques over conventional methods, discuss chemical reactions performed in the microfluidic reactors, summarize and tabulate strategies for the flow synthesis of inorganic particles, and provide the established applications of materials from these microfluidic systems. The challenges, opportunities, and future perspectives of microfluidics in the synthesis and applications of inorganic micro-/nanoparticles are furthermore discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
HaoNJLiLFTangFQ.Roles of particle size, shape and surface chemistry of mesoporous silica nanomaterials on biological systems. Int Mater Rev. 2017;62:57–77.
2.
HaoNJNeranonKRamströmOet al.Glyconanomaterials for biosensing applications. Biosens Bioelectron. 2016;76:113–130.
3.
Alaca BE.Integration of one-dimensional nanostructures with microsystems: an overview. Int Mater Rev. 2009;54:245–282.
4.
MarreSJensenKF.Synthesis of micro and nanostructures in microfluidic systems. Chem Soc Rev. 2010;39:1183–1202.
5.
FengQSunJJiangX.Microfluidics-mediated assembly of functional nanoparticles for cancer-related pharmaceutical applications. Nanoscale. 2016;8:12430–12443.
6.
ZhaoC-XHeLQiaoSZet al.Nanoparticle synthesis in microreactors. Chem Eng Sci. 2011;66:1463–1479.
7.
DendukuriDDoylePS.The synthesis and assembly of polymeric microparticles using microfluidic. Adv Mater. 2009;21:4071–4086.
8.
ChungBGLeeK-HKhademhosseiniAet al.Microfluidic fabrication of microengineered hydrogels and their application in tissue engineering. Lab Chip. 2012;12:45–59.
9.
CaprettoLCarugoDMazzitelliSet al.Microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip preparation routes for organic nanoparticles and vesicular systems for nanomedicine applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2013;65:1496–1532.
LinXZTerepkaADYangH.Synthesis of silver nanoparticles in a continuous flow tubular microreactor. Nano Lett. 2004;4:2227–2232.
19.
UsonLSebastianVArrueboMet al.Continuous microfluidic synthesis and functionalization of gold nanorods. Chem Eng J. 2016;285:286–292.
20.
BokenJSoniSKKumarD.Microfluidic synthesis of nanoparticles and their biosensing applications. Crit Rev Anal Chem. 2016;46:538–561.
21.
ChanEMAlivisatosAPMathiesRA.High-temperature microfluidic synthesis of CdSe nanocrystals in nanoliter droplets. J Am Chem Soc. 2005;127:13854–13861.
22.
GomezLArrueboMSebastianVet al.Facile synthesis of SiO2–Au nanoshells in a three-stage microfluidic system. J Mater Chem. 2012;22:21420–21425.
23.
KashidMNGuptaARenkenAet al.Numbering-up and mass transfer studies of liquid-liquid two-phase microstructured reactors. Chem Eng J. 2010;158:233–240.
24.
Al-RawashdehMYuFNijhuisTAet al.Numbered-up gas-liquid micro/milli channels reactor with modular flow distributor. Chem Eng J. 2012;207–208:645–655.
25.
SongHChenDLIsmagilovRF.Reactions in droplets in microfluidic channels. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2006;45:7336–7356.
26.
MaJLeeSYiCet al.Controllable synthesis of functional nanoparticles by microfluidic platforms for biomedical applications – a review. Lab Chip. 2017;17:209–226.
27.
CabezaVSKuhnSKulkarniAet al.Size-controlled flow synthesis of gold nanoparticles using a segmented flow micro fluidic platform. Langmuir. 2012;28:7007–7013.
28.
DuraiswamySKhanSA.Droplet-based microfluidic synthesis of anisotropic metal nanocrystals. Small. 2009;5:2828–2834.
29.
WagnerJTshikhudoTRKöhlerJM.Microfluidic generation of metal nanoparticles by borohydride reduction. Chem Eng J. 2008;135:S104–S109.
30.
TsunoyamaHIchikuniNTsukudaT.Microfluidic synthesis and catalytic application of pvp-stabilized, ∼1 nm gold clusters. Langmuir. 2008;24:11327–11330.
31.
ShalomDWoottonRCRWinkleRFet al.Synthesis of thiol functionalized gold nanoparticles using a continuous flow microfluidic reactor. Mater Lett. 2007;61:1146–1150.
32.
LazarusLLYangAS-JChuSet al.Flow-focused synthesis of monodisperse gold nanoparticles using ionic liquids on a microfluidic platform. Lab Chip. 2010;10:3377–3379.
33.
BoleiningerJKurzAReussVet al.Microfluidic continuous flow synthesis of rod-shaped gold and silver nanocrystals. Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2006;8:3824–3827.
34.
LohseSEEllerJRSivapalanSTet al.A simple millifluidic benchtop reactor system for the high-throughput synthesis and functionalization of gold nanoparticles with different sizes and shapes. ACS Nano. 2013;7:4135–4150.
35.
WengCHuangCYehCet al.Synthesis of hexagonal gold nanoparticles using a microfluidic reaction system. J Micromech Microeng. 2008;18:035019.
36.
GomezLSebastianVIrustaSet al.Scaled-up production of plasmonic nanoparticles using microfluidics: from metal precursors to functionalized and sterilized nanoparticles. Lab Chip. 2014;14:325–332.
37.
WangLMaSYangBet al.Morphology-controlled synthesis of Ag nanoparticle decorated poly(o-phenylenediamine) using microfluidics and its application for hydrogen peroxide detection. Chem Eng J. 2015;268:102–108.
38.
WagnerJKöhlerJM.Continuous synthesis of gold nanoparticles in a microreactor. Nano Lett. 2005;5:685–691.
39.
SadAbadiHBadilescuSPackirisamyMet al.Integration of gold nanoparticles in PDMS microfluidics for lab-on-a-chip plasmonic biosensing of growth hormones. Biosens Bioelectron. 2013;44:77–84.
40.
LeemJKangHWKoSHet al.Controllable Ag nanostructure patterning in a microfluidic channel for real-time SERS systems. Nanoscale. 2014;6:2895–2901.
41.
HeSKohiraTUeharaMet al.Effects of interior wall on continuous fabrication of silver nanoparticles in microcapillary reactor. Chem Lett. 2005;34:748–749.
42.
HeSTLiuYLMaedaH.Controlled synthesis of colloidal silver nanoparticles in capillary micro-flow reactor. J Nanopart Res. 2008;10:209–215.
43.
SinghAShirolkarMLallaNPet al.Room temperature, water-based, microreactor synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles. Int J Nanotechnol. 2009;6:541–551.
YangS-YChengF-YYehC-Set al.Size-controlled synthesis of gold nanoparticles using a micro-mixing system. Microfluid Nanofluid. 2010;8:303–311.
46.
Gómez-de PedroSPuyolMAlonso-ChamarroJ.Continuous flow synthesis of nanoparticles using ceramic microfluidic devices. Nanotechnology. 2010;21:415603.
47.
LeeKGHongJWangKWet al.In vitro biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles in microdroplets. ACS Nano. 2012;6:6998–7008.
48.
LazarusLLRicheCTMarinBCet al.Two-phase microfluidic droplet flows of ionic liquids for the synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2012;4:3077–3083.
49.
JamalFJean-SébastienGMaëlPet al.Gold nanoparticle synthesis in microfluidic systems and immobilisation in microreactors designed for the catalysis of fine organic reactions. Microsyst Technol. 2012;18:151–158.
50.
LiuHHuangJSunDet al.Microfluidic biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles: effect of process parameters on size distribution. Chem Eng J. 2012;209:568–576.
51.
KumarD V. RPrasad BLVKulkarniAA.Segmented flow synthesis of Ag nanoparticles in spiral microreactor: role of continuous and dispersed phase. Chem Eng J. 2012;192:357–368.
52.
HanKNLiCABuiMPNet al.On-chip electrochemical detection of bio/chemical molecule by nanostructures fabricated in a microfluidic channel. Sensor Actuat B. 2013;177:472–477.
53.
HorikoshiSSumiTSerponeN.A hybrid microreactor/microwave high-pressure flow system of a novel concept design and its application to the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Chem Eng Process. 2013;73:59–66.
54.
ParisiJSuLLeiY.In situ synthesis of silver nanoparticle decorated vertical nanowalls in a microfluidic device for ultrasensitive in-channel SERS sensing. Lab Chip. 2013;13:1501–1508.
55.
KöhlerJMMärzAPoppJet al.Polyacrylamid/silver composite particles produced via microfluidic photopolymerization for single particle-based SERS microsensorics. Anal Chem. 2013;85:313–318.
56.
López-LorenteÁIValcárcelMMizaikoffB.Continuous flow synthesis and characterization of tailor-made bare gold nanoparticles for use in SERS. Microchim Acta. 2014;181:1101–1108.
57.
FuQShengYTangHet al.Growth mechanism deconvolution of self-limiting supraparticles based on microfluidic system. ACS Nano. 2015;9:172–179.
58.
ParisiJDongQLeiY.In situ microfluidic fabrication of SERS nanostructures for highly sensitive fingerprint microfluidic-SERS sensing. RSC Adv. 2015;5:14081–14089.
59.
HafermannLMichael KöhlerJ.Small gold nanoparticles formed by rapid photochemical flow-through synthesis using microfluid segment technique. J Nanopart Res. 2015;17:152.
60.
XuLPengJYanMet al.Droplet synthesis of silver nanoparticles by a microfluidic device. Chem Eng Process. 2016;102:186–193.
61.
KimDJHaDZhouQet al.A cracking-assisted micro-/nanofluidic fabrication platform for silver nanobelt arrays and nanosensors. Nanoscale. 2017;9:9622–9630.
62.
YagyuHTanabeYTakanoSet al.Continuous flow synthesis of monodisperse gold nanoparticles by liquid-phase reduction method on glass microfluidic device. Micro Nano Lett. 2017;12:536–539.
63.
BandulasenaMVVladisavljevićGTOdunmbakuOGet al.Continuous synthesis of PVP stabilized biocompatible gold nanoparticles with a controlled size using a 3D glass capillary microfluidic device. Chem Eng Sci. 2017;171:233–243.
64.
TofighiGLichtenbergHPesekJet al.Continuous microfluidic synthesis of colloidal ultrasmall gold nanoparticles: in situ study of the early reaction stages and application for catalysis. React Chem Eng. 2017;2:876–884.
65.
MiyakeTUedaTIkenagaNet al.Synthesis of Fe2O3 in the capillary-tube reactor. J Mater Sci. 2005;40:5011–5013.
66.
SongYModrowHHenryLLet al.Microfluidic synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles. Chem Mater. 2006;18:2817–2827.
67.
FrenzLEl HarrakAPaulyMet al.Droplet-based microreactors for the synthesis of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2008;47:6817–6820.
68.
HassanAASandreOCabuilVet al.Synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles in a microfluidic device: preliminary results in a coaxial flow millichannel. Chem Commun. 2008;74: 1783–1785.
69.
SongYZhangTYangWet al.Fine crystal structure transition of cobalt nanoparticles formed in a microfluidic reactor. Cryst Growth Des. 2008;8:3766–3772.
70.
LeeW-BWengC-HChengF-Yet al.Biomedical microdevices synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles using a microfluidic system. Biomed Microdevices. 2009;11:161–171.
71.
SongYHenrysLLYangW.Stable amorphous cobalt nanoparticles formed by an in situ rapidly cooling microfluidic process. Langmuir. 2009;25:10209–10217.
72.
KumarKNightingaleAMKrishnadasanSHet al.Direct synthesis of dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in a capillary-based droplet reactor. J Mater Chem. 2012;22:4704–4708.
73.
EluriRPaulB.Synthesis of nickel nanoparticles by hydrazine reduction: mechanistic study and continuous flow synthesis. J Nanopart Res. 2012;14:10115.
74.
JiaoMZengJJingLet al.Flow synthesis of biocompatible Fe3O4 nanoparticles: insight into the effects of residence time, fluid velocity, and tube reactor dimension on particle size distribution. Chem Mater. 2015;27:1299–1305.
75.
XuLSrinivasakannanCPengJet al.Synthesis of nickel nanoparticles by aqueous reduction in continuous flow microreactor. Chem Eng Process. 2015;93:44–49.
76.
LinSLinKLuDet al.Preparation of uniform magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles by co-precipitation in a helical module microchannel reactor. J Environ Chem Eng. 2017;5:303–309.
77.
UsonLArrueboMSebastianVet al.Single phase microreactor for the continuous, high-temperature synthesis of <4 Nm superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Chem Eng J. 2018; doi:10.1016/j.cej.2017.12.024.
78.
HayashiNSakaiYTsunoyamaHet al.Development of ultrafine multichannel microfluidic mixer for synthesis of bimetallic nanoclusters: catalytic application of highly monodisperse AuPd nanoclusters stabilized by poly(N -vinylpyrrolidone). Langmuir. 2014;30:10539–10547.
79.
TofighiGGaurADoronkinDEet al.Microfluidic synthesis of ultrasmall AuPd nanoparticles with a homogeneously mixed alloy structure in fast continuous flow for catalytic applications. J Phys Chem C. 2018; doi:10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b11383.
80.
KnauerASchneiderSMöllerFet al.Screening of plasmonic properties of composed metal nanoparticles by combinatorial synthesis in micro-fluid segment sequences. Chem Eng J. 2013;227:80–89.
81.
YangC-GXuZ-RLeeAPet al.A microfluidic concentration-gradient droplet array generator for the production of multi-color nanoparticles. Lab Chip. 2013;13:2815–2820.
82.
SuYFKimHKovenkliogluSet al.Continuous nanoparticle production by microfluidic-based emulsion, mixing and crystallization. J Solid State Chem. 2007;180:2625–2629.
83.
YingYChenGZhaoYet al.A high throughput methodology for continuous preparation of monodispersed nanocrystals in microfluidic reactors. Chem Eng J. 2008;135:209–215.
84.
LiSXuJWangYet al.Controllable preparation of nanoparticles by drops and plugs flow in a microchannel device. Langmuir. 2008;24:4194–4199.
85.
WangQAWangJXLiMet al.Large-scale preparation of barium sulphate nanoparticles in a high-throughput tube-in-tube microchannel reactor. Chem Eng J. 2009;149:473–478.
86.
XuB-YYangZ-QXuJ-Jet al.Liquid–gas dual phase microfluidic system for biocompatible CaCO3 hollow nanoparticles generation and simultaneous molecule doping. Chem Commun. 2012;48:11635–11637.
87.
DuLWangYLuoG.In situ preparation of hydrophobic CaCO3 nanoparticles in a gas-liquid microdispersion process. Particuology. 2013;11:421–427.
88.
SongYHenryLL.Nearly monodispersion CoSm alloy nanoparticles formed by an In-situ rapid cooling and passivating microfluidic process. Nanoscale Res Lett. 2009;4:1130–1134.
89.
SongYDoomesEEPrindleJet al.Investigations into sulfobetaine-stabilized Cu nanoparticle formation: toward development of a microfluidic synthesis. J Phys Chem B. 2005;109:9330–9338.
90.
ZhangYJiangWWangL.Microfluidic synthesis of copper nanofluids. Microfluid Nanofluid. 2010;9:727–735.
91.
SongYLiRSunQet al.Controlled growth of Cu nanoparticles by a tubular microfluidic reactor. Chem Eng J. 2011;168:477–484.
92.
KeTZengX-FWangJ-Xet al.Microfluidic synthesis of monodisperse Cu nanoparticles in aqueous solution. J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2011;11:5154–5158.
93.
XuLPengJSrinivasakannanCet al.Synthesis of copper nanoparticles by a T-shaped microfluidic device. RSC Adv. 2014;4:25155–25159.
94.
WeiXWangL.Microfluidic method for synthesizing Cu2O nanofluids. J Thermophys Heat Tr. 2010;24:445–448.
95.
XuLSrinivasakannanCPengJet al.Microfluidic reactor synthesis and photocatalytic behavior of Cu@Cu2O nanocomposite. Appl Surf Sci. 2015;331:449–454.
96.
XuLSrinivasakannanCPengJet al.Synthesis of Cu-CuO nanocomposite in microreactor and its application to photocatalytic degradation. J Alloy Compd. 2017;695:263–269.
JungJHParkTJLeeSYet al.Homogeneous biogenic paramagnetic nanoparticle synthesis based on a microfluidic droplet generator. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2012;51:5634–5637.
99.
Abou-HassanABazziRCabuilV.Multistep continuous-flow microsynthesis of magnetic and fluorescent γ-Fe2O3 @SiO2 core/shell nanoparticles. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2009;48:7180–7183.
100.
Abou-HassanADufrêchferJFSandreOet al.Fluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy for Ph mapping in a coaxial flow microreactor: application in the synthesis of superparamagnetic nanoparticles. J Phys Chem C. 2009;113:18097–18105.
101.
HoangPHParkHKimDP.Ultrafast and continuous synthesis of unaccommodating inorganic nanomaterials in droplet- and ionic liquid-assisted microfluidic system. J Am Chem Soc. 2011;133:14765–14770.
102.
SongYSunQZhangTet al.Synthesis of worm and chain-like nanoparticles by a microfluidic reactor process. J Nanopart Res. 2010;12:2689–2697.
103.
TorigoeKWatanabeYEndoTet al.Microflow reactor synthesis of palladium nanoparticles stabilized with poly(benzyl ether) dendron ligands. J Nanopart Res. 2010;12:951–960.
104.
KarimAMAl HasanNIvanovSet al.Synthesis of 1 nm Pd nanoparticles in a microfluidic reactor: insights from in situ X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. J Phys Chem C. 2015;119:13257–13267.
105.
ZhangDWuFPengMet al.One-Step, facile and ultrafast synthesis of phase- and size-controlled Pt–Bi intermetallic nanocatalysts through continuous-flow microfluidics. J Am Chem Soc. 2015;137:6263–6269.
106.
WangHNakamuraHUeharaMet al.Preparation of titania particles utilizing the insoluble phase interface in a microchannel reactor. Chem Commun. 2002;38:1462–1463.
107.
TakagiMMakiTMiyaharaMet al.Production of titania nanoparticles by using a new microreactor assembled with same axle dual pipe. Chem Eng J. 2004;101:269–276.
108.
CottamBFKrishnadasanSDeMelloAJet al.Accelerated synthesis of titanium oxide nanostructures using microfluidic chips. Lab Chip. 2007;7:167–169.
109.
EunTHKimSHJeongWJet al.Single-step fabrication of monodisperse TiO2 hollow spheres with embedded nanoparticles in microfluidic devices. Chem Mater. 2009;21:201–203.
110.
BaahDTignerJBeanKet al.Preparation of planar graded refractive index nanocomposites using microfluidics. Mater Sci Eng B. 2011;176:883–888.
111.
KoziejDFloryanCSperlingRAet al.Microwave dielectric heating of non-aqueous droplets in a microfluidic device for nanoparticle synthesis. Nanoscale. 2013;5:5468–5475.
112.
VisaveliyaNLiSKöhlerJM.Heterogeneous nanoassembling: microfluidically prepared poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles on Ag microrods and ZnO microflowers. Part Part Syst Char. 2013;30:614–623.
113.
BaruahAJindalAAcharyaCet al.Microfluidic reactors for the morphology controlled synthesis and photocatalytic study of ZnO nanostructures. J Micromech Microeng. 2017;27:035013.
114.
NightingaleAMde MelloJC.Microscale synthesis of quantum dots. J Mater Chem. 2010;20:8454–8463.
115.
EdelJBForttRDeMelloJCet al.Microfluidic routes to the controlled production of nanoparticles. Chem Commun. 2002;38:1136–1137.
116.
ShestopalovITiceJDIsmagilovRF.Multi-step synthesis of nanoparticles performed on millisecond time scale in a microfluidic droplet-based system. Lab Chip. 2004;4:316–321.
117.
HungL-HChoiKMTsengW-Yet al.Alternating droplet generation and controlled dynamic droplet fusion in microfluidic device for CdS nanoparticle synthesis. Lab Chip. 2006;6:174–178.
118.
DaiJYangXHamonMet al.Particle size controlled synthesis of CdS nanoparticles on a microfluidic chip. Chem Eng J. 2015;280:385–390.
119.
NakamuraHYamaguchiYMiyazakiMet al.Preparation of CdSe nanocrystals in a micro-flow-reactor. Chem Commun. 2002;38:2844–2845.
120.
NakamuraHTashiroAYamaguchiYet al.Application of a microfluidic reaction system for CdSe nanocrystal preparation: their growth kinetics and photoluminescence analysis. Lab Chip. 2004;4:237–240.
121.
LuanWYangHTuSet al.Open-to-air synthesis of monodisperse CdSe nanocrystals via microfluidic reaction and its kinetics. Nanotechnology. 2007;18:175603.
122.
NightingaleAMBannockJHKrishnadasanSHet al.Large-scale synthesis of nanocrystals in a multichannel droplet reactor. J Mater Chem A. 2013;1:4067–4076.
123.
KrishnadasanSTovillaJVilarRet al.On-line analysis of CdSe nanoparticle formation in a continuous flow chip-based microreactor. J Mater Chem. 2004;14:2655–2660.
124.
WangHTashiroANakamuraHet al.Synthesis of CdSe magic-sized nanocluster and its effect on nanocrystal preparation in a microfluidic reactor. J Mater Res. 2004;19:3157–3161.
125.
WangHNakamuraHUeharaMet al.Highly luminescent CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals synthesized using a single-molecular ZnS source in a microfluidic reactor. Adv Funct Mater. 2005;15:603–608.
126.
YangHLuanWTuSet al.Synthesis of nanocrystals via microreaction with temperature gradient: towards separation of nucleation and growth. Lab Chip. 2008;8:451–455.
127.
WanZYangHLuanWet al.Facile synthesis of monodisperse CdS nanocrystals via microreaction. Nanoscale Res Lett. 2010;5:130–137.
128.
LuanWYangHFanNet al.Synthesis of efficiently green luminescent CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals via microfluidic reaction. Nanoscale Res Lett. 2008;3:134–139.
129.
MarreSParkJRempelJet al.Supercritical continuous-microflow synthesis of narrow size distribution quantum dots. Adv Mater. 2008;20:4830–4834.
130.
KikkeriRLaurinoPOdedraAet al.Synthesis of carbohydrate-functionalized quantum dots in microreactors. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2010;49:2054–2057.
131.
SounartTLSafierPAVoigtJAet al.Spatially-resolved analysis of nanoparticle nucleation and growth in a microfluidic reactor. Lab Chip. 2007;7:908–915.
132.
HuSZengSZhangBet al.Preparation of biofunctionalized quantum dots using microfluidic chips for bioimaging. Analyst. 2014;139:4681–4690.
133.
ToyotaANakamuraHOzonoHet al.Combinatorial synthesis of CdSe nanoparticles using microreactors. J Phys Chem C. 2010;114:7527–7534.
134.
LignosIStavrakisSKilajAet al.Millisecond-timescale monitoring of PbS nanoparticle nucleation and growth using droplet-based microfluidics. Small. 2015;11:4009–4017.
135.
YenBKHStottNEJensenKFet al.A continuous-flow microcapillary reactor for the preparation of a size series of CdSe nanocrystals. Adv Mater. 2003;15:1858–1862.
136.
ChanEMMathiesRAAlivisatosAP.Size-controlled growth of CdSe nanocrystals in microfluidic reactors. Nano Lett. 2003;3:199–201.
137.
WangHLiXUeharaMet al.Continuous synthesis of CdSe-ZnS composite nanoparticles in a microfluidic reactor. Chem Commun. 2004;56:48–49.
138.
YenBKHGüntherASchmidtMAet al.A microfabricated gas-liquid segmented flow reactor for high-temperature synthesis: the case of CdSe quantum dots. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2005;44:5447–5451.
139.
KrishnadasanSBrownRJCDeMelloAJet al.Intelligent routes to the controlled synthesis of nanoparticles. Lab Chip. 2007;7:1434–1441.
140.
YangHFanNLuanWet al.Synthesis of monodisperse nanocrystals via microreaction: open-to-air synthesis with oleylamine as a coligand. Nanoscale Res Lett. 2009;4:344–352.
141.
UeharaMNakamuraHMaedaH.Preparation of ZnS/CdSe/ZnS quantum dot quantum well by using a microfluidic reactor. J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2009;9:577–583.
142.
YangHLuanWTuSTet al.High-temperature synthesis of CdSe nanocrystals in a serpentine microchannel: wide size tunability achieved under a short residence time. Cryst Growth Des. 2009;9:1569–1574.
143.
NightingaleAMde MelloJC.Controlled synthesis of III-V quantum dots in microfluidic reactors. ChemPhysChem. 2009;10:2612–2614.
144.
KwonBHLeeKGParkTJet al.Continuous in situ synthesis of ZnSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots in a microfluidic reaction system and its application for light-emitting diodes. Small. 2012;8:3257–3262.
145.
LignosIProtesescuLStavrakisSet al.Facile droplet-based micro fluidic synthesis of monodisperse IV − VI semiconductor nanocrystals with coupled in-line NIR fluorescence detection. Chem Mater. 2014;26:2975–2982.
146.
TianZ-HWangY-JXuJ-Het al.Intensification of nucleation stage for synthesizing high quality CdSe quantum dots by using preheated precursors in microfluidic devices. Chem Eng J. 2016;302:498–502.
147.
TianZ-HXuJ-HWangY-Jet al.Microfluidic synthesis of monodispersed CdSe quantum dots nanocrystals by using mixed fatty amines as ligands. Chem Eng J. 2016;285:20–26.
148.
HongLCheungTLRaoNet al.Millifluidic synthesis of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles and their application in bioimaging. RSC Adv. 2017;7:36819–36832.
149.
WangJZhaoHZhuYet al.Shape-controlled synthesis of CdSe nanocrystals via a programmed microfluidic process. J Phys Chem C. 2017;121:3567–3572.
150.
SwainBHongMHKangLet al.Optimization of CdSe nanocrystals synthesis with a microfluidic reactor and development of combinatorial synthesis process for industrial production. Chem Eng J. 2017;308:311–321.
151.
KwakCHParkJPLeeSSet al.Droplet-based microfluidic reactor for synthesis of size-controlled CdSe quantum dots. J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2018;18:1339–1342.
152.
HaoNLiLTangF.Shape matters when engineering mesoporous silica-based nanomedicines. Biomater Sci. 2016;4:575–591.
153.
HaoNChenXJayawardanaKWet al.Shape control of mesoporous silica nanomaterials templated with dual cationic surfactants and their antibacterial activities. Biomater Sci. 2016;4:87–91.
154.
HaoNJYangHHLiLFet al.The shape effect of mesoporous silica nanoparticles on intracellular reactive oxygen species in A375 cells. New J Chem. 2014;38:4258–4266.
155.
HaoNChenXJeonSet al.Carbohydrate-conjugated hollow oblate mesoporous silica nanoparticles as nanoantibiotics to target mycobacteria. Adv Healthc Mater. 2015;4:2797–2801.
156.
HaoNTangFLiL.MCM-41 mesoporous silica sheet with ordered perpendicular nanochannels for protein delivery and the assembly of Ag nanoparticles in catalytic applications. Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 2015;218:223–227.
157.
HaoNJayawardanaKWChenXet al.One-step synthesis of amine-functionalized hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles as efficient antibacterial and anticancer materials. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2015;7:1040–1045.
158.
KhanSAGüntherASchmidtMAet al.Microfluidic synthesis of colloidal silica. Langmuir. 2004;20:8604–8611.
159.
GüntherAKhanSAThalmannMet al.Transport and reaction in microscale segmented gas-liquid flow. Lab Chip. 2004;4:278–286.
160.
HePGreenwayGHaswellSJ.Microfluidic synthesis of silica nanoparticles using polyethylenimine polymers. Chem Eng J. 2011;167:694–699.
161.
GutierrezLGomezLIrustaSet al.Comparative study of the synthesis of silica nanoparticles in micromixer-microreactor and batch reactor systems. Chem Eng J. 2011;171:674–683.
162.
ChungCKShihTRChangCKet al.Design and experiments of a short-mixing-length baffled microreactor and its application to microfluidic synthesis of nanoparticles. Chem Eng J. 2011;168:790–798.
163.
CarrollNJRathodSBDerbinsEet al.Droplet-based microfluidics for emulsion and solvent evaporation synthesis of monodisperse mesoporous silica microspheres. Langmuir. 2008;24:658–661.
164.
LeeIYooYChengZet al.Generation of monodisperse mesoporous silica microspheres with controllable size and surface morphology in a microfluidic device. Adv Funct Mater. 2008;18:4014–4021.
165.
JeongWChoiMLimCHet al.Microfluidic synthesis of atto-liter scale double emulsions toward ultrafine hollow silica spheres with hierarchical pore networks. Lab Chip. 2012;12:5262–5271.
166.
CarrollNJCrowderPFPylypenkoSet al.Microfluidic synthesis of monodisperse nanoporous oxide particles and control of hierarchical pore structure. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013;5:3524–3529.
167.
NgTNChenXQYeungKL.Direct manipulation of particle size and morphology of ordered mesoporous silica by flow synthesis. RSC Adv. 2015;5:13331–13340.
168.
LiDGuanZZhangWet al.Synthesis of uniform-size hollow silica microspheres through interfacial polymerization in monodisperse water-in-oil droplets. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2010;2:2711–2714.
169.
TachibanaMEnglWPanizzaPet al.Combining sol-gel chemistry and millifluidic toward engineering microporous silica ceramic final sizes and shapes: an integrative chemistry approach. Chem Eng Process. 2008;47:1317–1322.
170.
FangAGaillardCDouliezJP.Template-free formation of monodisperse doughnut-shaped silica microparticles by droplet-based microfluidics. Chem Mater. 2011;23:4660–4662.
171.
ZhaoCXMiddelbergAPJ.Microfluidic synthesis of monodisperse hierarchical silica particles with raspberry-like morphology. RSC Adv. 2013;3:21227–21230.
172.
LeeDWeitzDA.Nonspherical colloidosomes with multiple compartments from double emulsions. Small. 2009;5:1932–1935.
JuMJiXWangCet al.Preparation of solid, hollow, hole-shell and asymmetric silica microspheres by microfluidic-assisted solvent extraction process. Chem Eng J. 2014;250:112–118.
178.
BchellaouiNHayatZMamiMet al.Microfluidic-assisted formation of highly monodisperse and mesoporous silica soft microcapsules. Sci Rep. 2017;7:1278.
179.
HaoNNieYTadimetyAet al.Microfluidics-mediated self-template synthesis of anisotropic hollow ellipsoidal mesoporous silica nanomaterials. Mater Res Lett. 2017;5:584–590.
180.
NieYHaoNZhangXJ.Ultrafast synthesis of multifunctional submicrometer hollow silica spheres in microfluidic spiral channels. Sci Rep. 2017;7:3987.
181.
HaoNNieYZhangXJ.Microfluidic flow synthesis of functional mesoporous silica nanofibers with tunable aspect ratios. ACS Sustainable Chem Eng. 2018;6:1522–1526. doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.7b03527
182.
ParkJISaffariAKumarSet al.Microfluidic synthesis of polymer and inorganic particulate materials. Annu Rev Mater Res. 2010;40:415–443.
183.
TaoSYangMChenHet al.Microfluidic synthesis of Ag@Cu2O core-shell nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activity. J Colloid Interf Sci. 2017;486:16–26.
184.
TaoSYangMChenHet al.Continuous synthesis of hedgehog-like Ag–ZnO nanoparticles in a two-stage microfluidic system. RSC Adv. 2016;6:45503–45511.
185.
SanderJSStudartAR.Monodisperse functional colloidosomes with tailored nanoparticle shells. Langmuir. 2011;27:3301–3307.
186.
KöhlerJMRomanusHHübnerUet al.Formation of star-like and core-shell AuAg nanoparticles during two- and three-step preparation in batch and in microfluidic systems. J Nanomater. 2007;2007:1–7.
187.
KnauerATheteALiSet al.Au/Ag/Au double shell nanoparticles with narrow size distribution obtained by continuous micro segmented flow synthesis. Chem Eng J. 2011;166:1164–1169.
188.
FangJEvansCWWillisGJet al.Sequential microfluidic flow synthesis of CePO4 nanorods decorated with emission tunable quantum dots. Lab Chip. 2010;10:2579–2582.
189.
StraßAMaierRGüttelR.Continuous synthesis of nanostructured Co3O4@SiO2 core-shell particles in a laminar-flow reactor. Chem Ing Tech. 2017;89:963–967.
190.
WengCHHuangCCYehCSet al.Synthesis of hollow, magnetic Fe/Ga-based oxide nanospheres using a bubble templating method in a microfluidic system. Microfluid Nanofluid. 2009;7:841–848.
191.
LeeS-KLiuXSebastián CabezaVet al.Synthesis, assembly and reaction of a nanocatalyst in microfluidic systems: a general platform. Lab Chip. 2012;12:4080–4084.
192.
SongYJiSSongYet al.In situ redox microfluidic synthesis of core–shell nanoparticles and their long-term stability. J Phys Chem C. 2013;117:17274–17284.
193.
HanDJJungJHChoiJSet al.Synthesis of a 3D graphite microball using a microfluidic droplet generator and its polymer composite with core–shell structure. Lab Chip. 2013;13:4006–4010.
194.
ZhuXZhangQLiYet al.Facile crystallization control of LaF3/LaPO4:Ce, Tb nanocrystals in a microfluidic reactor using microwave irradiation. J Mater Chem. 2010;20:1766–1771.
195.
KataokaSTakeuchiYHaradaAet al.Microreactor containing platinum nanoparticles for nitrobenzene hydrogenation. Appl Catal A. 2012;427–428:119–124.
196.
DuraiswamySKhanSA.Plasmonic nanoshell synthesis in microfluidic composite foams. Nano Lett. 2010;10:3757–3763.
197.
RahmanMTKrishnamurthyPGParthibanPet al.Dynamically tunable nanoparticle engineering enabled by short contact-time microfluidic synthesis with a reactive gas. RSC Adv. 2013;3:2897–2900.
198.
HassanNCabuilVAbou-HassanA.Continuous multistep microfluidic assisted assembly of fluorescent, plasmonic, and magnetic nanostructures. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2013;52:1994–1997.
199.
KhanSAJensenKF.Microfluidic synthesis of titania shells on colloidal silica. Adv Mater. 2007;19:2556–2560.
200.
LanWLiSXuJet al.Synthesis of titania-silica core-shell microspheres via a controlled interface reaction in a microfluidic device. Langmuir. 2011;27:13242–13247.
SinghALimayeMSinghSet al.A facile and fast approach for the synthesis of doped nanoparticles using a microfluidic device. Nanotechnology. 2008;19:245613.
203.
YangCHWangLSChenSYet al.Microfluidic assisted synthesis of silver nanoparticle–chitosan composite microparticles for antibacterial applications. Int J Pharm. 2016;510:493–500.
204.
KimYFayFCormodeDPet al.Single step reconstitution of multifunctional high-density lipoprotein-derived nanomaterials using microfluidics. ACS Nano. 2013;7:9975–9983.
205.
ChangZSerraCABouqueyMet al.Multiscale materials from microcontinuous-flow synthesis: ZnO and Au nanoparticle-filled uniform and homogeneous polymer microbeads. Nanotechnology. 2010;21:015605.
206.
HeJWangLWeiZet al.Vesicular self-assembly of colloidal amphiphiles in microfluidics. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013;5:9746–9751.
207.
GroßGAHamannCGüntherMet al.Formation of polymer and nanoparticle doped polymer minirods by use of the microsegmented flow principle. Chem Eng Technol. 2007;30:341–346.
208.
WangQZhangDYangXet al.Atom-economical in situ synthesis of BaSO4 as imaging contrast agents within poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels using one-step droplet microfluidics. Green Chem. 2013;15:2222–2229.
209.
SchabasGWangCWOskooeiAet al.Formation and shear-induced processing of quantum dot colloidal assemblies in a multiphase microfluidic chip. Langmuir. 2008;24:10596–10603.
210.
WangC-WOskooeiASintonDet al.Controlled self-assembly of quantum dot−block copolymer colloids in multiphase microfluidic reactors. Langmuir. 2010;26:716–723.
211.
TranTHNguyenCTKimDet al.Microfluidic approach for highly efficient synthesis of heparin-based bioconjugates for drug delivery. Lab Chip. 2012;12:589–594.
212.
ChangJ-YYangC-HHuangK-S.Microfluidic assisted preparation of CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals encapsulated into poly(DL-lactide- co -glycolide) microcapsules. Nanotechnology. 2007;18:305305.
213.
ValenciaPMBastoPAZhangLet al.Single-step assembly of homogenous lipid-polymeric and lipid-quantum dot nanoparticles enabled by microfluidic rapid mixing. ACS Nano. 2010;4:1671–1679.
214.
ZhaoYShumHCChenHet al.Microfluidic generation of multifunctional quantum dot barcode particles. J Am Chem Soc. 2011;133:8790–8793.
215.
ChenYDongPFXuJHet al.Microfluidic generation of multicolor quantum-dot-encoded core-shell microparticles with precise coding and enhanced stability. Langmuir. 2014;30:8538–8542.
216.
SethABéalleGSantanach-CarrerasEet al.Design of vesicles using capillary microfluidic devices: from magnetic to multifunctional vesicles. Adv Mater. 2012;24:3544–3548.
217.
WangWYangCCuiXQet al.Droplet microfluidic preparation of au nanoparticles-coated chitosan microbeads for flow-through surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection. Microfluid Nanofluid. 2010;9:1175–1183.
218.
LanWLiSXuJet al.Controllable preparation of nanoparticle-coated chitosan microspheres in a co-axial microfluidic device. Lab Chip. 2011;11:652–657.
219.
HwangDKDendukuriDDoylePS.Microfluidic-based synthesis of non-spherical magnetic hydrogel microparticles. Lab Chip. 2008;8:1640–1647.
220.
Hasani-SadrabadiMMDashtimoghadamEBahlakehGet al.On-chip synthesis of fine-tuned bone-seeking hybrid nanoparticles. Nanomedicine. 2015;10:3431–3449.
221.
LinYSHuangKSYangCHet al.Microfluidic synthesis of microfibers for magnetic-responsive controlled drug release and cell culture. PLoS One. 2012;7:4–11.
222.
PasetaLSeoaneBJulveDet al.Accelerating the controlled synthesis of metal–organic frameworks by a microfluidic approach: a nanoliter continuous reactor. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013;5:9405–9410.
223.
FaustiniMKimJJeongGet al.Microfluidic approach toward continuous and ultrafast synthesis of metal − organic framework crystals and hetero structures in confined microdroplets. J Am Chem Soc. 2013;135:14619–14626.
224.
NamJOKimJJinSHet al.Microfluidic preparation of a highly active and stable catalyst by high performance of encapsulation of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-Pt nanoparticles in microcapsules. J Colloid Interf Sci. 2016;464:246–253.
225.
PrasadNPerumalJChoiCHet al.Generation of monodisperse inorganic-organic janus microspheres in a microfluidic device. Adv Funct Mater. 2009;19:1656–1662.
226.
LanWLiSXuJet al.One-step synthesis of chitosan-silica hybrid microspheres in a microfluidic device. Biomed Microdevices. 2010;12:1087–1095.
227.
HwangHKimS-HYangS-M.Microfluidic fabrication of SERS-active microspheres for molecular detection. Lab Chip. 2011;11:87–92.
228.
ParkJNieZKumachevAet al.A microfluidic approach to chemically driven assembly of colloidal particles at Gas-liquid interfaces. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2009;121:5404–5408.
229.
SeoMGorelikovIWilliamsRet al.Microfluidic assembly of monodisperse, nanoparticle-incorporated perfluorocarbon microbubbles for medical imaging and therapy. Langmuir. 2010;26:13855–13860.
230.
LiuDHerranz-BlancoBMäkiläEet al.Microfluidic templated mesoporous silicon–solid lipid microcomposites for sustained drug delivery. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013;5:12127–12134.
231.
LanWLiSXuJet al.A one-step microfluidic approach for controllable preparation of nanoparticle-coated patchy microparticles. Microfluid Nanofluid. 2012;13:491–498.
232.
LiuDZhangHMäkiläEet al.Microfluidic assisted one-step fabrication of porous silicon@acetalated dextran nanocomposites for precisely controlled combination chemotherapy. Biomaterials. 2015;39:249–259.
ShepherdRFConradJCRhodesSKet al.Microfluidic assembly of homogeneous and Janus colloid-filled hydrogel granules. Langmuir. 2006;22:8618–8622.
235.
ChenYNurumbetovGChenRet al.Multicompartmental Janus microbeads from branched polymers by single-emulsion droplet microfluidics. Langmuir. 2013;29:12657–12662.
236.
KhanIUSerraCAAntonNet al.Production of nanoparticle drug delivery systems with microfluidics tools. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2014;12:1–16.
237.
RiahiRTamayolAShaeghSAMet al.Microfluidics for advanced drug delivery systems. Curr Opin Chem Eng. 2015;7:101–112.
238.
BjörnmalmMYanYCarusoF.Engineering and evaluating drug delivery particles in microfluidic devices. J Control Release. 2014;190:139–149.
239.
ZhaoC-X.Multiphase flow microfluidics for the production of single or multiple emulsions for drug delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2013;65:1420–1446.
240.
YangSGuoFKiralyBet al.Microfluidic synthesis of multifunctional Janus particles for biomedical applications. Lab Chip. 2012;12:2097–2102.
241.
HaoNJLiuHYLiLLet al.In vitro degradation behavior of silica nanoparticles under physiological conditions. J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2012;12:6346–6354.
242.
HaoNJNieYZhangXJ.Biomimetic hierarchical walnut kernel-like and erythrocyte-like mesoporous silica nanomaterials: controllable synthesis and versatile applications. Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 2018;261:144–149.
243.
HaoNLiLZhangQet al.The shape effect of PEGylated mesoporous silica nanoparticles on cellular uptake pathway in Hela cells. Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 2012;162:14–23.
244.
HaoNLiLTangF.Facile preparation of ellipsoid-like MCM-41 with parallel channels along the short axis for drug delivery and assembly of Ag nanoparticles for catalysis. J Mater Chem A. 2014;2:11565–11568.
245.
HaoNJChorsiHTZhangXJ.Hierarchical lotus leaf-like mesoporous silica material with unique bilayer and hollow sandwich-like folds: synthesis, mechanism, and applications. ACS Sustain Chem Eng. 2017;5:2044–2049.
246.
ValenciaPMFarokhzadOCKarnikRet al.Microfluidic technologies for accelerating the clinical translation of nanoparticles. Nat Nanotechnol. 2012;7:623–629.
