Fabrication of Micro-alginate Beads Under Centrifugally Induced Artificial Gravity Conditions

Abstract

This work presents a method for the direct, centrifugally induced fabrication of small, Ca2+ cross-linked alginate beads at syringe needle micro-nozzles. The bead diameter was found between 65-282.5 µm and rpm between 1900-200 rpm. Centrifuge tube-syringe set up is aligned vertically at rest in flying bucket and under rotation they align horizontally. The centrifugally induced, ultra-high artificial gravity conditions allow the micro-encapsulation of alginate solutions. With this low cost technology for fabrication of micro alginate beads, beads with less than 300 µm have been formed.