High shear vortex fluidics coupled with NIR affords luminescent carbon dots as a scalable process.

The fabrication of hybrid protein-Cu3(PO4)2 nanoflowers (NFs) via an intermediate toroidal structure is dramatically accelerated under shear using a vortex fluidic device (VFD) which possesses a rapidly rotating angled tube. As-prepared laccase NFs (LNFs) exhibit ≈1.8-fold increase in catalytic activity compared to free laccase under diffusion control, which is further enhanced by ≈2.9-fold for the catalysis under shear in the VFD. A new LNF immobilization platform (VLIS) was subsequently developed by mixing the LNFs for 15 min with silica hydrogel resulting in gelation along the VFD tube surface. The resultant LNFs@Silica coating is highly stable and reusable, which allows a dramatic 16-fold enhancement in catalytic rates relative to LNF@Silica inside glass vials. Real-time monitoring of the UV-Vis within the LNFs@Silica coated tube reveals good stability of the coating in continuous flow processing. The results demonstrate the utility of the VFD microfluidic platform, further highlighting its ability in controlling chemical and enzymatic processes.

Macroporous bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles with controllable diameter were readily fabricated in a rapidly rotating angled glass tube in a vortex fluidic device (VFD). Systematically varying the rotational speed and the ratio of BSA, ethanol, and glutaraldehyde led to conditions for generating ca. 600 nm diameter macroporous particles that have intrinsic fluorescence emission at 520 nm when excited at 490 nm. The presence of the macropores increased the absorption efficiency of rhodamine B with potential applications for drug delivery purpose, compared with BSA nanoparticles having surfaces devoid of pores. Further control over the size of BSA nanoparticles occurred in the presence of C-phycocyanin protein during the VFD processing, along with control of their shape, from spheres to pockets, as established in exploring the parameter space of the microfluidic device.

Selective formation of only one iron oxide phase is a major challenge in conventional laser ablation process, as is scaling up the process. Herein, superparamagnetic single-phase magnetite nanoparticles of hexagonal and spheroidal-shape, with an average size of ca. 15 nm, are generated by laser ablation of bulk iron metal at 1064 nm in a vortex fluidic device (VFD). This is a one-step continuous flow process, in air at ambient pressure, with in situ uptake of the nanoparticles in the dynamic thin film of water in the VFD. The process minimizes the generation of waste by avoiding the need for any chemicals or surfactants and avoids time-consuming purification steps in reducing any negative impact of the processing on the environment.

Exfoliation or scrolling of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) occurs in a vortex fluidic device (VFD) operating under continuous flow, with a tilt angle of À45 relative to the horizontal position. This new VFD processing strategy is effective in avoiding the build-up of material that occurs when the device is operated using the conventional tilt angle of +45 , where the h-BN precursor and scrolls are centrifugally held against the wall of the tube. At a tilt angle of À45 the downward flow aided by gravity facilitates material exiting the tube with the exfoliation of h-BN and formation of h-BN scrolls then optimized by systematically varying the other VFD operating parameters,including flow rate and rotational speed, along with concentration of h-BN and the choice of solvent. Water was the most effective solvent, which enhances the green chemistry metrics of the processing.

Major challenges for optimizing the benefits of fish oil on human health are improved bioavailability while overcoming the strong odor and avoiding significant oxidation of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The scalable continuous flow thin film vortex fluidic device (VFD) improves the Tween 20 encapsulation of fish oil relative to conventional homogenization processing, with the fish oil particles significantly smaller and the content of the valuable omega-3 fatty acids higher. In addition, after 14 days storage the remaining omega-3 fatty acids content was higher, from ca 31.0% for raw fish oil to ca 62.0% of freeze-dried encapsulated fish oil. The VFD mediated encapsulated fish oil was used to enrich the omega-3 fatty acid content of apple juice, as a model water-based food product, without changing its sensory values. The versatility of the VFD was further demonstrated in forming homogenous suspensions of fish oil containing water-insoluble bioactive molecules, curcumin and quercetin. We have also captured, for the first time, real-time structural changes in nanoencapsulation by installing a VFD with in in situ small angle neutron scattering. Real-time measurements afford valuable insights about self-assembly in solution.

In general, fluorescent polyethylenimine (PEI) nanoparticles absorb primarily UV light, with the fluorophores typically having extended conjugated structures. In this work, PEI nanoparticles of circa 10 nm in diameter,d evoid of such structural features and with tunable fluorescence, were generatedi na microfluidic platform. Tunability of the fluorescence was achieved by varying the flow rate of liquid entering the rapidly rotating tube in av ortex fluidic device (VFD), without the need for additional reagents. Chemical incorporation of amide functional groups triggered enhanced fluorescencei ntensity and auto-fluorescence over aw ide range, and the resultingn anoparticles showeds ignificantly reduced cytotoxicity compared to as-received polymers.Fluorescent nanoparticles derived from amino-containing dendritic polymers have been used for biological imaging and biosensors [1][2][3] where the fluorophores are usually extended conjugated chemical structures. [4] Even though simple oxidation, acidification or methylation can further enhancet he intrinsic fluorescence, [5] the mechanism of fluorescencef rom these dendritic polymers is not well understood. Some propose that the origin of fluorescence arises from oxygen-doped interior tertiary amine [6] and interior urea-doped with peripherala mino groups. [7] These fluorescent polymers can contain Schiff base moieties, [5] tertiary amine or carbonyl groups in an dendrimer interior with terminal groups such as monohydroxyl, [8] air [6] or hydrogen peroxide [9] oxidized amines, amine-rich nanoclusters, [5] and carbamato anion. [2] The nature of the dendritic structure and macromolecular backbonec an also significantly influence the fluorescenceproperties. [1,5] Polyethylenimine (PEI) is aw ater-solublec ationic polyelectrolytew hich contains al arge number of amino groups, and has been used to prepare various fluorescent materials. [10] The fluorescenceo fP EI is unexpected given the absence of chromophores. [5] Refluxing 25 kDa PEIi nn itric acid at 120 8Cf or 12 ha ffords photoluminescent nanoparticles (l ex = 360 nm, l em = 450 nm) bearing amide linkages (NHCO). [11] Hyperbranched PEI (hPEI)-based fluorescent particles have been prepared at high temperature (200 8C) [12] or via microwave irradiation. [13] Adding formaldehyde at 90 8Cr esultsi nf luorescent polymericn anoparticles (l ex = 365 nm, l em = 508 nm) or gels (l ex = 350 nm, l em = 476 nm). Similarly,a dding salicylaldehyde impartsf luorescence( l ex = 370 nm, l em = 495 nm) [14] which arises from the formationo fSchiff base moieties. [3,5] Hydrothermal treatmento fh PEI with aldehydes at 95 8Cg enerates fluorescent polymer nanoparticles, [3] depending on the pH which can complicate the processing. The carbamate anion is another moiety responsible for fluorescence( l ex = 364 nm, l em = 470 nm), formed by reacting PEI with CO 2.[2] Based on our knowledge,t unability of fluorescence has never been addressedo nP EI-based nanoparticles with mostly reported optimum excitation in the UV region, as described above...

Polysulfone (PSF) was prepared under high shear in a vortex fluidic device (VFD) operating in confined mode. This involved reacting the pre-prepared disodium salt of bisphenol A (BPA) with a 4,4′-dihalodiphenylsulfone under anhydrous conditions.