Generalized boundary integral method to investigate the rheology of multiple emulsions of complex internal structures

TL;DR

This paper introduces a generalized boundary integral method to analyze the rheology of complex, multi-layered emulsions with multiple droplets, aiding in understanding their deformation, breakup, and potential for controlled drug delivery.

Contribution

It develops a novel boundary integral approach for simulating the rheology of multi-layered emulsions with complex internal structures, extending beyond simple double emulsions.

Findings

Hydrodynamics of engulfed droplets are characterized.

Inner droplet movement can lead to emulsion breakup.

Outer flow and internal structure influence controlled release mechanisms.

Abstract

A generalized boundary integral method is developed to investigate the rheology of multiple emulsions with orderly structures up to n layers and up to mi droplets in the i-th layer in microchannels with various geometries. Recently, as fine templates to prepare microcapsules for targeted drug delivery, multiple emulsions with complex structures have been generated through microfluidics. The deformation and breakup of multiple emulsions are critical to the transport and release of their inclusion. However, the numerical investigation of the rheology of multiple emulsions is only limited to a simple case, i.e., double emulsions with only one core, currently. In this letter, two-dimensional boundary element method is employed to study the rheology of multiple emulsions under modest outer flows. Especially, the hydrodynamics of the engulfed droplets, which might be useful in their controlled coalescence for chemical reactions and in their controlled release for drug delivery, is investigated. Although the entire particle has an equilibrium shape under modest outer flows initially, the slow movement of the inner droplets might cause the contact of the outer and inner interface, and eventually induces a breakup of the particle. Thus, appropriate outer flows and internal structures of multiple emulsions might provide a possibility to execute the control release through hydrodynamics.