Generation of 3D microparticles using flow lithography in non-rectangular microchannels

Abstract

The process of flow lithography has been developed as a convenient method to fabricate micro-sized polymeric particles. However, the current processes of flow lithography have limitations of being only definable in 2-D extrusions. In this paper we aim to overcome such dimensional limitations and fabricate particles that vary in all 3 axis using non-rectangular channel built by various micro-fabrication techniques. In addition we built a device with enlarging microchannel cross-section and fabricated multi-layered micro particles, which can be useful for applications such as controlled drug release.