Fabrication of hydrogel mask using a microfluidic technique

Skin masks are used in a wide range in the cosmetics industry. It is often used to restore the skin's lost moisture, acne, wound and blemish treatments, anti-aging care and daily care. Among the mask types, the most innovative solution designs are hydrogel skin masks with highest moisture level, which have abilities such as cell renewal and cellular functional increase. In this study, we produced alginate-based hydrogel masks using a microfluidic technique. Microbubbles were firstly produced with a T-junction microfluidic device and by converting microbubbles to hydrogel; a porous polymer skin masks were successfully achieved. The resultant maks contains Hypericum perforatum oil and honey in its own polymeric structure. It is desired to benefit from the moisturizing, antibacterial and wound-healing properties in honey, and antibacterial and wound-healing properties of Hypericum perforatum. A porous structural alginate-based hydrogel mask was produced and the dispersions used during this production were examined by physical property measurements and dispersion characterizations, such as surface tension, viscosity, density and contact angle. The microbubbles produced for the fabrication of hydrogel by a T-junction microfluidic technique were taken with an optical microscope, the hydrogel structure produced was dried and structural, thermal and chemical characterizations were performed using SEM, FT-IR, FT-Raman, XRD, DSC and TGA methods. The masks obtained contain the active ingredients of honey and Hypericum perforatum oil produced and they were tested on six volunteered patients. Skin moisture measurements before and after hydrogel applied were examined with a digital moisture meter and a comparison was made by visually examining the changes in acne and wound formation on the patient's skin.