JP7182242B2 - CENTRIFUGE DEVICE, DROP GENERATION METHOD, AND GEL BEADS - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a centrifugal separator, a method for generating droplets, and gel beads.

Hydrogel microgel beads (fine gel beads) are generated in a polymer network containing water, and can be used to create microscale structures while taking advantage of the various properties of the polymer itself, such as temperature responsiveness and photoresponsiveness. can be formed. Such microgel beads can be used for drug delivery, cell culture, and actuators, and can be applied to material science, soft robotics, life science, medical care, and the like.
As a method for producing hydrogel microbeads, for example, the methods described in Non-Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 2 are known.
In Non-Patent Document 1, microgel beads having various functions are generated by flowing monomer droplets in silicone oil in a microchannel and irradiating ultraviolet rays in the middle of the microchannel for photopolymerization. device is listed.
In addition, in Non-Patent Document 2, a device using a fine glass tube and a microtube is manufactured, and alginic acid gel beads are dropped into CaCl ₂ by a centrifuge without using a device for liquid transfer such as a microsyringe. A system is described for producing microgel beads by.

Md. Taifur Tahman, et al., “Monodisperse Polymeric Ionic Liquid Microgel Beads with Multiple Chemically Switchable Functionalities,” Langmuir, 29, 9535-9543 (2013). K Maeda, et al., “Controlled Synthesis of 3D Multi-Compartmental Particles with Centrifuge-Based Microdroplet Formation from a Multi-Barrelled Capillary,” Adv. Mater., 24, 1340-1346 (2012).

In the technique described in Non-Patent Document 1, microgel beads are generated using silicone oil in the microchannel. At this time, since the channel for generating the microgel beads can be configured relatively freely, there is a possibility that various functions can be added to the microgel beads by using photopolymerization or the like. However, in the technique described in Non-Patent Document 1, since microgel beads are generated in silicone oil, it is necessary to wash the microgel beads after generation in order to use them in an aqueous solution, which complicates the generation process. There's a problem.
In addition, in the technique described in Non-Patent Document 2, by using a fine glass tube and a microtube in a centrifuge, microgel beads can be generated in a CaCl ₂ solution without using a microchannel. This makes it possible to easily generate microgel beads in an aqueous solution without requiring a process of washing the microgel beads after generation. However, in the technique described in Non-Patent Document 2, since microgel beads are generated in a centrifuge, only microgel beads using alginic acid as the main material can be generated, and microgel beads have various functions. It is difficult to give
In addition, when processing materials using a centrifuge, since the rotor of the centrifuge rotates at high speed, it is not easy to apply a physical action to the inside of the rotor from the outside. The physical action that can be applied to the material inside the rotor is limited.
As described above, in the conventional technique, it is difficult to easily generate minute gel beads while increasing the degree of freedom in material selection. Further, in the prior art, the type of physical action that can be applied to the material to be centrifuged, other than the action of centrifugal force, was limited.

An object of the present invention is to increase the degree of freedom in material selection and to more easily produce microscopic gel beads. Another object of the present invention is to expand the types of physical action that can be applied to the material to be centrifuged in addition to the action of centrifugal force.

In order to achieve the above object, a centrifugal separation device according to one aspect of the present invention includes
A centrifugal separation unit that applies a centrifugal force to the material by rotating a rotating body on which the material is installed;
a power supply unit that supplies power to the rotating body of the centrifugal separation unit;
an action applying section that applies an additional physical action other than centrifugal force to the material to be centrifuged by the power supplied by the power supply section;
characterized by comprising

According to the present invention, minute gel beads can be produced more easily while increasing the degree of freedom in material selection. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to expand the types of physical action that can be applied to the material to be centrifuged in addition to the action of centrifugal force.

1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a droplet generating device according to this embodiment; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a power supply unit; FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the external configuration of a sample container; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the internal structure of a sample container; It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of a shielding member. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the steps of generating microgel beads with a droplet generator; FIG. 2 is a micrograph showing the state of microgel beads formation. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the size of microgel beads, and showing the measurement results of the cross-sectional area of the outer shell. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the size of microgel beads, and a diagram showing the measurement results of the cross-sectional area of the nucleus. It is a figure which shows the magnitude|size of a microgel bead, and is a figure which shows the measurement result of the Feret diameter of an outer shell. It is a figure which shows the size of a microgel bead, and is a figure which shows the measurement result of the Feret diameter of a nucleus. It is a figure which shows the size of a microgel bead, and is a figure which shows the shrinkage|contraction rate of a microgel bead. 2 is a micrograph showing a state in which microgel beads were repeatedly heated in each process of Experiments 1 to 3. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing contractility of microgel beads, and a diagram showing measurement results of the cross-sectional area of microgel beads. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing experimental results of measuring the contractility of microgel beads, and showing the measurement results of the Feret diameter of microgel beads. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the experimental results of measuring the contractility of microgel beads, showing the contraction rate of the outer shell of microgel beads, the contraction rate of the nucleus, and the contraction rate after lyase.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Basic concept of the present invention]
In the droplet generation method according to the present invention, droplets made of a polymer material containing a photoresponsive gel are generated by sending liquid by centrifugation. For example, by sending liquid by centrifugation, droplets having a photoresponsive gel as a nucleus and a shell made of a polymer material are generated. In this case, as the polymer material for the outer shell, it is preferable to use a material that forms (hardens) a network faster than the core photoresponsive gel.
Then, the photoresponsive gel is photopolymerized (cured) by irradiating the generated droplets with ultraviolet rays. In the case of the above-described liquid droplets having a photoresponsive gel as a nucleus and an outer shell made of a polymer material, irradiation with ultraviolet rays causes the inside of the droplet to maintain its shape with the outer shell polymer material. The photoresponsive gel is photopolymerized (cured).
As a result, minute gel beads (for example, microgel beads with a diameter of about 1 to 1000 [μm]) can be easily produced without being restricted by materials such as alginic acid.
Such a droplet generation method can be widely applied to polymeric materials including photoresponsive gels. As described above, when the photoresponsive gel is used as the nucleus and the outer shell is a droplet composed of a polymer material, various photoresponsive gels that serve as the nucleus and various polymer materials that serve as the outer shell are used. , and is particularly effective when the molecular size of the core photoresponsive gel is smaller than that of the outer shell polymeric material.
An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below.

[Droplet generator]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a droplet generating device 1 according to this embodiment.
A droplet generating device 1 shown in FIG. 1 shows an example in which the centrifugal separation device according to the present invention is configured as a device for generating minute gel beads (microgel beads). An example of producing microgel beads having p(NIPAM) as the nucleus and NaAlg as the outer shell will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the droplet generator 1 according to this embodiment includes a control unit 10 and a centrifugal separation unit 20 .
The control unit 10 is configured by an information processing device such as a PC (Personal Computer) or a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). The control unit 10 controls the centrifugal separation operation in the centrifugal separation unit 20 and controls the irradiation of ultraviolet light by an LED, which will be described later.

The centrifugal separation unit 20 includes a housing 21 , a rotor 22 and a drive motor 23 .
The housing 21 constitutes a case member that houses the rotor 22 and the driving motor 23 . In this embodiment, the main components of the centrifugal separation unit 20 are installed in the housing 21, and the centrifugal separation unit 20 and the control unit 10 are configured as separate units. Note that the control unit 10 may be configured integrally with the centrifugal separation unit 20 .
The rotor 22 is a rotating body on which a sample container 100 such as a centrifuge tube containing a sample to be centrifuged is installed, and is rotated by a drive motor 23 when centrifuging is performed.
In this embodiment, the rotor 22 includes a power supply 22a capable of supplying power to the rotor 22 during rotation.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of the power supply unit 22a.
As shown in FIG. 2, the rotor 22 has a power supply line made up of a slip ring on the portion of the rotating shaft that is rotatably supported with respect to the housing 21 as a power supply section 22a. In the case of such a configuration, for example, a rotating shaft made of a conductive material is installed on the housing 21 side, and a contact that is made of a conductive material and rotates in contact with the rotating shaft is installed on the rotor 22 side. , power can be supplied into the rotor 22 . Alternatively, the rotating shaft made of a conductive material may be installed on the rotor 22 side, and the contactor made of a conductive material may be provided on the housing 21 side.
The driving motor 23 rotationally drives the rotor 22 according to the control signal from the control unit 10 . In this embodiment, the drive motor 23 rotates the rotor 22 so as to apply a centrifugal force of about 1500 G to the sample container 100 such as a centrifuge tube in the rotor 22 .

[Configuration of sample container]
Next, the sample container 100 used in the droplet generating device 1 according to this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the external configuration of the sample container 100. As shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the internal structure of the sample container 100. As shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 4 shows the internal structure as a cross-sectional structure of the sample container 100 .
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sample container 100 in this embodiment is configured using a centrifuge tube, and includes a microtube 101, LEDs 102a and 102b, and a cap 103. FIG.

The microtube 101 is a tubular container fixed coaxially with the sample container 100 inside the sample container 100 .
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the microtube 101 includes a glass tube 101a and a shielding member 101b inside.

The glass tube 101 a is fixed coaxially with the microtube 101 inside the microtube 101 . That is, the microtube 101 and the glass tube 101a are configured not to move relative to the sample container 100 when centrifugal force is applied.
Further, in the glass tube 101a, 2.5% (w/w) NaAlg aqueous solution (2.5% sodium alginate solution) and 10% (w/w) p(NIPAM) aqueous solution (10% poly-N-isopropylamide solution) and centrifuged, a 2.5% (w/w) NaAlg aqueous solution (2. 5% sodium alginate solution) and 10% (w/w) p(NIPAM) aqueous solution (10% poly-N-isopropylamide solution) are ejected. This droplet has a structure in which the NaAlg aqueous solution surrounds the p(NIPAM) aqueous solution immediately after being ejected from the glass tube 101a. That is, the liquid droplet ejected from the glass tube 101a has a structure in which the core of the p(NIPAM) aqueous solution is protected by the outer shell of the NaAlg aqueous solution.
A CaCl ₂ aqueous solution is stored in the bottom of the microtube 101 . This CaCl ₂ aqueous solution storage tank serves as a storage portion P for storing droplets ejected from the ejection port of the glass tube 101a.
The shielding member 101b shields the exit of the glass tube 101a from the light emitted from the LEDs 102a and 102b.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the shielding member 101b.
As shown in FIG. 5, the shielding member 101b is configured to shield the exit port of the glass tube 101a from the irradiation light of the LEDs 102a and 102b.
The shielding member 101b can suppress the curing of p(NIPAM) by the light from the LEDs 102a and 102b at the exit port of the glass tube 101a, thereby preventing clogging of the glass tube 101a.

The LEDs 102a and 102b irradiate droplets ejected from the ejection opening of the glass tube 101a with ultraviolet light (here, deep ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 325 [nm]) according to the control signal of the control unit 10. FIG.
Specifically, the LED 102a irradiates droplets ejected from the ejection port of the glass tube 101a and moving in the air with ultraviolet light. Moreover, the LED 102b irradiates the liquid droplet that has reached the reservoir P with ultraviolet light. In this case, both the droplets moving in the air and the droplets reaching the reservoir P are irradiated with ultraviolet light. It is also possible to irradiate ultraviolet light in other forms by adjusting the intensity and direction of irradiation (such as irradiating from two opposite directions in the air).
The droplets irradiated with ultraviolet light by the LEDs 102a and 102b stably form microgel beads in which the core of p(NIPAM) is protected by the outer shell of NaAlg.

The cap 103 is a cover member that closes the opening of the sample container 100 . Further, the cap 103 is formed with a through hole through which a conductor for transmitting the power supplied from the power supply portion 22a to the LEDs 102a and 102b is passed.

[motion]
Next, the operation of the droplet generating device 1 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a process of generating microgel beads (microgel bead generating process) by the droplet generating device 1 .
First, a 2.5% (w/w) NaAlg aqueous solution (2.5% sodium alginate solution) and a 10% (w/w) p(NIPAM) aqueous solution (10% poly-N-isopropylamide solution) were placed in the glass tube 101a. (step S1).

Then, the glass tube 101 a is set inside the microtube 101 , and the microtube 101 is further set inside the sample container 100 . At this time, the CaCl ₂ aqueous solution is stored in the bottom of the microtube 101 (step S2).
Next, the sample container 100 is set on the rotor 22 of the centrifugal separation unit 20 (step S3).

Subsequently, in the control unit 10, the centrifugal force of the centrifugal separation unit 20, the processing time, and the settings related to the irradiation of ultraviolet rays are performed (step S4). In this embodiment, the LEDs 102a and 102b are intermittently driven and controlled (for example, PWM controlled) to irradiate droplets with a desired amount of UV light.
Then, the control unit 10 is instructed to rotate the centrifugal separation unit 10 and drive and control the LEDs 102a and 102b (step S5).

Then, the rotor 22 of the centrifugal separation unit 20 rotates, and droplets having the p(NIPAM) aqueous solution as the core and the NaAlg aqueous solution as the outer shell are ejected from the glass tube 101a in the sample container 100 (step S6). .
At this time, power is supplied from the outside of the rotor 22 to the LEDs 102a and 102b inside the rotor 22 via the power supply portion 22a of the rotor 22 (step S7).

Then, the LED 102a to which power is supplied irradiates the droplets in the air immediately after being ejected from the glass tube 101a with ultraviolet light (step S8).
As a result, photopolymerization of p(NIPAM) proceeds in droplets moving in the air, and the droplets are cured in the air.

Further, the droplets cured in the air are stored in the CaCl ₂ aqueous solution in the storage part P (step S9).
At this time, the LED 102b to which power is supplied via the power supply section 22a irradiates the droplets stored in the storage section P with ultraviolet light (step S10).
As a result, the photopolymerization of p(NIPAM) progresses in the droplets stored in the storage portion P, and the droplets in the storage portion P are cured.

As a result of such treatment, the droplets stored in the storage part P become microgel beads having hardened p(NIPAM) as cores and NaAlg as outer shells.

[effect]
A mixed solution of 2.5% (w/w) NaAlg aqueous solution and 10% (w/w) p(NIPAM) aqueous solution was filled in the glass tube 101a, placed in the microtube 101, and centrifuged (1500 G). did At that time, two types of LEDs 102a and 102b were used for the irradiation of ultraviolet rays: a narrow-range LED (irradiation range angle is about 6 degrees) and a wide-range type LED (irradiation range angle is about several tens of degrees).
Experiments were also conducted with the mixing ratios of the NaAlg aqueous solution and the p(NIPAM) aqueous solution set to 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3.

FIG. 7 is a micrograph showing the state of microgel beads formation.
8A to 8E are diagrams showing the size of microgel beads, FIG. 8A is a diagram showing the measurement result of the cross-sectional area of the outer shell, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the measurement result of the cross-sectional area of the nucleus. 8C is a diagram showing the results of measurement of the Feret diameter of the outer shell, FIG. 8D is a diagram showing the measurement results of the Feret diameter of the nucleus, and FIG. 8E is a diagram showing the contraction rate of the microgel beads. Note that the number of samples in FIGS. 8A to 8E is 50. FIG.
Note that the experiment in FIG. 7 shows an example in which droplets ejected from the glass tube 101a are irradiated with ultraviolet rays at a rotation speed of 1000 [rpm], a centrifugation time of 120 [s], and a UV irradiation time of 120 [s]. . Also, the irradiation pattern of the ultraviolet rays has a duty ratio of 100[%], 50[%], and 0[%]. The duty ratio of 100 [%] is continuous irradiation of ultraviolet rays, and the duty ratio of 50 [%] is that the ultraviolet rays are turned on for 5 [ms] in 10 [ms] and turned off for 5 [ms]. , and irradiates ultraviolet rays of half the amount of light in a pseudo manner. A duty ratio of 0 [%] means that the droplets are not irradiated with ultraviolet rays when ejected from the glass tube 101a, but are irradiated with ultraviolet rays after being stored in the CaCl ₂ aqueous solution.
7 and 8A to 8E, when the duty ratio is 50 [%] compared to the case where the duty ratio is 100 [%], although microgel beads are generated, the nuclei become smaller and It can be seen that the degree of shrinkage due to thermal response is reduced. Further, it can be seen that no nucleus is formed when the duty ratio is 0 [%].
Also, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8A to 8E, the microgel beads after heating (here, heated at 50 [° C.] for 10 minutes) have a duty ratio of 100 [%] and 50 [%]. It can be seen that the nucleus contracts due to the thermal response.

Next, microgel beads were produced from a 10% (w/w) p(NIPAM) aqueous solution (Experiment 1), and the produced microgel beads were collected with a cell strainer (mesh size 100 [μm]) (Experiment 2). , NaAlg lyase to remove the alginic acid shell (Experiment 3).
FIG. 9 is a micrograph showing a state in which the microgel beads were repeatedly heated in each process of Experiments 1-3.
10A to 10C are diagrams showing the contractility of microgel beads, FIG. 10A is a diagram showing the measurement results of the cross-sectional area of the microgel beads, FIG. 10B is a diagram showing the measurement results of the Feret diameter of the microgel beads, FIG. 10C is a diagram showing the contraction rate of the outer shell, the contraction rate of the nucleus, and the contraction rate after lyase of the microgel beads. The number of samples in FIGS. 10A and 10B is 50, and the number of samples in FIG. 10C is three.
9 and 10A-10C, microgel beads produced in Experiment 1, microgel beads collected in Experiment 2, and deshelled microgel beads in Experiment 3 (microgel beads after lyase). Both have contractility due to thermal response even after repeated heating and cooling.
In addition, when comparing the microgel beads produced in Experiment 1 with the microgel beads from which the outer shell of alginic acid was removed in Experiment 3 (microgel beads after lyase), the microgel beads from which alginic acid was removed by lyase exhibited a higher thermal response. It can be seen that the degree of shrinkage is increased by

[Modification 1]
In the above-described embodiment, the power supply unit 22a has been described as having a slip ring on the portion of the rotating shaft that is rotatably supported with respect to the housing 21, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the power supply unit 22a may be configured to supply power to the inside of the rotor 22 using electromagnetic force. In this case, electric power can be supplied to the inside of the rotor 22 by arranging the coils in the housing 21 and the rotor 22 so as to face each other and by generating electromagnetic induction between these coils.
Further, for example, the power supply unit 22a may be configured to supply power to the inside of the rotor 22 using photovoltaic power generation. In this case, the photovoltaic elements installed inside the rotor 22 are irradiated with light from the outside of the rotor 22 , and the electric power generated by the photovoltaic elements can be supplied to the inside of the rotor 22 .
Further, for example, the power supply unit 22a can install a small battery (a button battery, a small capacitor, or the like) in the rotor 22 and supply power to the inside of the rotor 22 from this small battery.
In each of the modifications described above, when an object such as an element is installed inside the rotor 22, by arranging it symmetrically with respect to the center of rotation, rotation during centrifugation can be stabilized.

As described above, the droplet generating device 1 according to this embodiment includes the centrifugal separation unit 20, the power supply section 22a, and the LEDs 102a and 102b.
The centrifugal separation unit 20 rotates a rotating body (rotor 22) in which a material (mixed solution of 2.5% (w/w) NaAlg aqueous solution and 10% (w/w) p(NIPAM) aqueous solution) is installed. Apply centrifugal force to the material.
The power supply section 22 a supplies power to the rotating body of the centrifugal separation unit 20 .
The LEDs 102a, 102b exert additional physical effects other than centrifugal force on the material being centrifuged by power supplied by power supply 22a.
Thereby, the material being subjected to centrifugal force by centrifugation can be subjected to additional physical action other than the centrifugal force by the power supplied into the rotating body.
Therefore, the types of physical action that can be applied to the material to be centrifuged, in addition to the action of centrifugal force, can be expanded. In addition, by generating gel beads using the droplet generation device 1, minute gel beads (micro gel beads) can be generated more easily while increasing the degree of freedom in material selection.

The centrifugal separation unit 20 ejects material droplets from a tubular member (glass tube 101a) filled with a material containing a stimuli-responsive material.
The LEDs 102a, 102b apply additional physical effects other than centrifugal force to the ejected droplets of material to change the state of the droplets.
As a result, additional physical action other than centrifugal force can be applied to the droplets in the air ejected from the tubular member to change the state of the droplets.
Therefore, it is possible to easily retain the shape of the droplet immediately after being ejected from the tubular member.

The LEDs 102a, 102b apply additional physical action other than centrifugal force to the ejected droplets of material to harden the stimuli-responsive material and produce gel beads containing the stimuli-responsive material.
As a result, minute gel beads (microgel beads) can be produced more easily while increasing the degree of freedom in material selection.

The LEDs 102a and 102b irradiate the material with power supplied by the power supply 22a.
Thereby, in addition to the action of centrifugal force due to centrifugal separation, the action of light can be applied to the droplet containing the photoresponsive material.

The temperature of the material may be changed by the power supplied by the power supply section 22a.
Thereby, in addition to the action of centrifugal force due to centrifugal separation, it is possible to apply the action of temperature to the droplets containing the temperature-responsive material.

Electromagnetic force may be applied to the material by power supplied by the power supply 22a.
Thereby, in addition to the action of centrifugal force due to centrifugal separation, the action of electromagnetic force can be applied to the material.

The power supply unit 22a has a slip ring on the rotating shaft portion of the rotating body.
The power supply unit 22a supplies electric power supplied from the outside of the rotating body to the inside of the rotating body via the slip ring.
This makes it possible to supply power to the inside of the rotating body in a form that can be easily controlled from the outside of the rotating body.

The power supply unit 22a includes a battery inside the rotating body.
Then, power supplied from the battery is supplied to the rotating body.
As a result, power can be supplied within the rotating body without providing an external power supply mechanism.

The power supply unit 22a has a coil for electromagnetic induction on the rotating body side.
Electric power is supplied to the inside of the rotating body by the electric power generated by the electromagnetic force applied to the coil from the outside of the rotating body.
This makes it possible to supply electric power from the outside of the rotating body to the inside of the rotating body with a simple configuration.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified and improved within the scope of the effects of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the liquid droplet ejected from the glass tube 101a has a structure in which the nucleus of the p(NIPAM) aqueous solution is protected by the outer shell of the NaAlg aqueous solution, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, not only droplets generated by centrifugation are separated into core and outer shell, but droplets generated by centrifugation contain a photoresponsive material and are photopolymerized (hardened) by light irradiation. The present invention can be applied to any
Further, for example, in the above embodiments, the case where p(NIPAM) is used as the photoresponsive material has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to various photoresponsive materials such as polyethylene glycol.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the case of generating microgel beads made of a photoresponsive material has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, stimuli-responsive materials that respond to various stimuli such as temperature (heat), force, and electromagnetic waves can be used in addition to photo-responsive materials. In this case, in the rotor 22 of the centrifugal separation unit 20, electric power supplied via the electric power supply section 22a can be used to apply stimulation corresponding to the material as a physical action. As a result, microbeads using various stimuli-responsive materials can be easily produced.

Moreover, it is possible to implement the present invention by appropriately combining the examples described in the above embodiments.
The processing for control in the above-described embodiments can be executed by either hardware or software.
That is, the droplet generating device 1 only needs to have a function capable of executing the above-described processing, and the functional configuration and hardware configuration for realizing this function are not limited to the above example.

It should be noted that the above embodiment shows an example to which the present invention is applied, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. That is, the present invention can make various modifications such as omissions and substitutions without departing from the gist of the present invention, and can take various embodiments other than the above-described embodiments. Various embodiments and modifications thereof that can be taken by the present invention are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.

1 droplet generator, 10 control unit, 20 centrifugal separation unit, 21 housing, 22 rotor, 22a power supply unit, 23 drive motor, 100 sample container, 101 microtube, 101a glass tube, 101b shielding member, 102a, 102b LED, 103 cap

Claims (10)

A centrifugation device that can be used to produce microgel beads, comprising:
A rotating tubular member filled with a stimulus-responsive material that serves as the nucleus of the microgel beads and a polymeric material that forms a network faster than the stimulus-responsive material that serves as the outer shell of the microgel beads. a centrifugal separation unit that applies centrifugal force to the material by rotating the body to eject droplets of the material from the tubular member into the air;
a power supply unit that supplies power to the rotating body of the centrifugal separation unit;
an action applying unit that applies an additional physical action other than centrifugal force to the material that has been centrifuged and ejected into the air by the power supplied by the power supply unit;
A centrifugal separator comprising: 2. The action applying section applies an additional physical action other than the centrifugal force to the ejected droplets of the material to change the state of the droplets in the air. Centrifuge device according to. The action applying section applies an additional physical action other than the centrifugal force to the ejected droplets of the material to harden the stimulus-responsive material and produce gel beads containing the stimulus-responsive material. 3. The centrifugal separation device according to claim 2, characterized in that it generates 4. The centrifugal separator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the action applying section irradiates the material with light using power supplied by the power supply section. The centrifugal separator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the action applying section changes the temperature of the material by means of power supplied by the power supply section. The centrifugal separator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the action applying section applies an electromagnetic force to the material by means of power supplied by the power supply section. The power supply unit includes a slip ring on the rotating shaft portion of the rotating body,
7. The centrifugal separator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein electric power supplied from the outside of said rotating body is supplied into said rotating body via said slip ring. The power supply unit includes a battery in the rotating body,
7. The centrifugal separator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electric power supplied from the battery is supplied to the rotor. The power supply unit includes a coil for electromagnetic induction on the rotating body side,
7. The centrifugal separator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein electric power generated by electromagnetic force applied to said coil from the outside of said rotating body is used to supply electric power to said rotating body. A droplet generation method capable of generating microgel beads,
A tubular member filled with a stimulus-responsive material serving as the nucleus of the microgel beads and a polymeric material serving as the outer shell of the microgel beads, which forms a network faster than the stimulus-responsive material serving as the nucleus, is provided on a rotating body. a centrifugal separation step of ejecting droplets of said material from said tubular member into the air by centrifugal force by placing and rotating in a
a power supply step of supplying power to the rotating body in the centrifugal separation step;
The electric power supplied in the power supply step applies an additional physical action other than centrifugal force to the droplets of the material that have been centrifuged and ejected into the air to change the state of the droplets. an action addition step;
A droplet generating method, comprising:

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