Core-shell droplets and microcapsules formed through liquid-liquid phase separation of a colloid-polymer mixture.

Microcapsules allow for the controlled containment, transport, and release of cargoes ranging from pharmaceuticals to fragrances. Given the interest from a variety of industries in microcapsules and other core-shell structures, a multitude of fabrication strategies exist. Here, we report on a method relying on a mixture of temperature-responsive microgel particles, poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM), and a polymer which undergo fluid-fluid phase separation.