Microfluidics meets layer-by-layer assembly for the build-up of polymeric scaffolds

Abstract

The Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembly of polymers and microfluidics belong to a category of the most useful and promising techniques emerged within the last three-to-four decades. Despite the high promise to combine LbL deposition with microfluidic techniques for the formulation of polymeric scaffolds, this combination is limited thus far, and is only presented by few literature reports only. This combination holds the ability to aid in assembling advanced scaffolds with programmable and highly controlled properties. Here we highlight the advantages and disadvantages for both LbL assembly onto 2D and 3D substrates, and of microfluidic techniques observed in the literature thus far. Firstly, LbL assembly is presented, focusing upon its basic principles, hard-templating and multilayer capsule formation, followed by deposition technical aspects. The basics of microfluidics is described in view of the formulation of polymer structures, whereby examples of microfluidic-assisted scaffold fabrication via LbL assembly are provided. This review seeks to provide the reader with a critical view on the application of microfluidic techniques, in combination with LbL assembly for the production of polymer scaffolds.

Keywords

• Calcium carbonate
• Polyelectrolyte multilayers
• Tissue engineering