Microfluidizers are popular laboratory instruments used across many industries, including pharmaceuticals and technology. These machines provide extensive benefits in certain processes, proving to be a valuable resource for various labs. Below, we discuss what microfluidization is, how microfluidizers work and the advantages of these instruments in different industries.
What Is a Microfluidizer?
Microfluidization is a process used to produce microscopically small particles, and microfluidizers are machines that effectively reduce particle size in fluids while maintaining uniformity. Like homogenizers, they create uniform mixtures by ensuring all parts of a material receive equal treatment.
However, the difference is that microfluidizers can achieve smaller particle sizes that are easily scalable. Because microfluidizers yield smaller particle sizes, they're often preferred over homogenizers in applications such as vaccine formulation, advanced bioprocessing and emulsification.
How Do Microfluidizers Work?
Microfluidizers work with the principles of homogenization — and, more specifically, high-pressure homogenization. High-pressure homogenization is achieved when fluid is forced through a narrow nozzle at a high speed. Microfluidizers perform similarly, using high-pressure pumps to push fluid through a small channel at pressures ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 pounds per square inch.
The fluids used during microfluidization are processed inside interaction chambers, where they travel at incredibly high velocities, creating an impact that helps reduce particle size. There are two types of interaction chambers:
- Y-type interaction chamber: Y-type interaction chambers split the liquid into two streams, which collide with each other and the channel. This makes them ideal for emulsions, encapsulations and other liquid-liquid processes.
- Z-type interaction chamber: Z-type chambers push the liquid in a zigzag channel to collide with the channel surface. Unlike Y-type chambers, these types of chambers are generally used to disperse solid materials in liquid.
As the fluids move through these chambers, their particles break down through shear and impact forces — also known as homogenization. The result is significantly reduced uniform particle sizes. The fluids may recirculate in these chambers several times until the preferred particle size is achieved. Additionally, many microfluidizers feature temperature control systems to help maintain the quality of heat-sensitive materials.
What Are Microfluidizers Used For?
Mirofluidizers can benefit a wide range of industries and processes.
1. Nanoparticle Production
Since microfluidization can create smaller particles than homogenization, it's often used to produce nanoparticles. These nanoparticles can then be used across various industries, such as IT, medicine, food safety, security and transportation.
Some examples of how nanoparticles produced by microfluidization can be used include clear coatings on glass and LED items like eyeglasses, windows and computers and smart fabrics that can monitor health and capture solar energy.
2. Pharmaceutical Uses
Microfluidizers create small, uniform particles, making them ideal for the pharmaceutical industry, where precision is essential. Here are some common uses of microfluidizers in the medical industry:
- Vaccinations
- Injectables
- Liposomal medication
3. Food Industry Application
Microfluidizers can also be useful in the food industry, particularly in areas where homogenizers are commonly used but smaller particles are needed. One example of this is the dairy industry. Homogenization helps create better milk products, and microfluidizers do the same — just more effectively. Microfluidizers can also assist in other food-related processes, like:
- Delivery systems
- Improving shelf life
- Inactivating enzymes
4. Emulsion Stability
Emulsion stability refers to how effectively an emulsion can maintain its uniformity instead of separation. It's often essential in areas where products need to remain uniform, like:
- Food products
- Packaging
- Personal care items
Because microfluidization is so effective at creating uniform particles at a very small scale, it helps keep the emulsion stable and prevent separation. One of the benefits of microfluidization is that it can work in both confined and dynamic environments to improve emulsion stability.
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Top 3 Benefits of Microfluidizers
Microfluidizers offer numerous benefits for laboratories, including:
1. Temperature Control
Temperature control involves keeping the temperature in an environment at a stable level. Temperatures naturally fluctuate, but in some cases, this fluctuation can be harmful. Food and medical products must often be kept at stable temperatures for maximum efficiency and safety.
It also aids in cost savings as fewer products go to waste. Microfluidization processes can implement temperature control by circulating coolant through the microfluidizer channels. This process absorbs heat and removes the heated coolant, which cools the entire device.
2. Linear Scalability
When scaling processes and applications, there isn't always a clear-cut path that indicates how smooth the scaling will be. Sometimes, something will grow at a rapid rate, only to then decline. Other times, the scaling process can be choppy and unpredictable. Linear scalability fixes that.
In theory, scaling systems should be linear. If a system copes well with its workload, it should be able to produce twice that much work if given twice the resources. However, not all applications and processes work this way. Sometimes, applications simply cannot handle an increased workload, even if their input is increased.
With linear scalability, they can. Because microfluidizers are reliable, it's easy to scale them up. They provide predictable, linear scaling with repeatable results, making it easy for them to go from lab to industrial use without scaling issues.
3. Faster Results
Microfluidization takes place on a small scale, which results in rapid heat and mass transport. The increased heat and mass mean microfluidizers yield the quickest results. Whether you need analysis results or quick reaction times, microfluidizers are highly effective at doing what's necessary.
Once you consider the fact that they allow specific processes to be automated and reproduced, it's easy to see why so many labs choose them for their effectiveness.
Choosing the Right Microfluidizer
Ultimately, you want to choose a high-quality microfluidizer from a reliable supplier. Be sure to do your research to determine which microfluidizer best suits your needs and which supplier offers the best quality and price — check out their online reviews to see if others are happy with their microfluidizers. It may be best for your budget and needs to invest in a used microfluidizer instead of a new model. Overall, consider all of your options to make the most informed decision.
Find Your Microfluidizer at New Life Scientific
At New Life Scientific, we offer high-quality, used lab equipment to improve your processes without going over budget. Our customers save anywhere from 35% to 95% on their equipment, making us an ideal solution for cutting costs while reaping the benefits of microfluidizers.
With a 90-day warranty, excellent customer service and technician-tested equipment, we can help you find an instrument that fits both your budget and your needs. Browse our range of microfluidizers to see what we have available, or contact us with any questions!
