One step formation of controllable complex emulsions: from functional particles to simultaneous encapsulation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic agents into desired position.

This article presents a one-step method for generating complex emulsions that exploits the phase separation of the emulsion droplet generated in the microchannel. This approach easily produces double, triple, quadruple, and Janus emulsions with monodisperse size. These emulsions can be used as useful templates for the synthesis of new functional materials, such as microcapsules, hemispheres, Janus particles and microcarriers that are capable of simultaneously encapsulating hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds with selective compartmentalization in a one-step process.