Data associated with 'Combined flow-focus and self-assembly routes for the formation of lipid stabilized oil-shelled microbubbles'

The data presented here supports the results presented in the associated manuscript on the production of Oil Layer Inside Microbubbles and the conformation of the presence of their oil component. Briefly: Microbubbles (MBs) are used medically as contrast agents for ultrasound imaging and are being developed for the delivery of water soluble drugs. However, many new therapeutics require hydrophobic drug delivery systems. This study presents a new method to produce MBs coated with an inner oil layer (OLI-MBs) capable of encapsulating hydrophobic drugs and suitable for targeted, triggered release. This new method utilises high control flow-focus microfluidics with lipid oil nanodroplet self-assembly and spreading at gas-aqueous interfaces. OLI-MBs were produced with diameters of 2.4 ± 0.3 μm (standard deviation 1.6 μm) and at concentrations up to 10^6 bubbles/ml.