Core–Shell Particles: From Fabrication Methods to Diverse Manipulation Techniques

Abstract

Core–shell particles are micro- or nanoparticles with solid, liquid, or gas cores encapsulated by protective solid shells. The unique composition of core and shell materials imparts smart properties on the particles. Core–shell particles are gaining increasing attention as tuneable and versatile carriers for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications including targeted drug delivery, controlled drug release, and biosensing. This review provides an overview of fabrication methods for core–shell particles followed by a brief discussion of their application and a detailed analysis of their manipulation including assembly, sorting, and triggered release. We compile current methodologies employed for manipulation of core–shell particles and demonstrate how existing methods of assembly and sorting micro/nanospheres can be adopted or modified for core–shell particles. Various triggered release approaches for diagnostics and drug delivery are also discussed in detail.

Keywords

• digital microfluidics
• triggered release
• sorting
• assembly
• targeted drug delivery