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Kojima T, Noguchi Y, Terasaka K, Asakura K, Banno T. Engineering pH-Responsive, Self-Healing Vesicle-Type Artificial Tissues with Higher-Order Cooperative Functionalities. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2311255. [PMID: 38415816 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202311255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Multicellular organisms demonstrate a hierarchical organization where multiple cells collectively form tissues, thereby enabling higher-order cooperative functionalities beyond the capabilities of individual cells. Drawing inspiration from this biological organization, assemblies of multiple protocells are developed to create novel functional materials with emergent higher-order cooperative functionalities. This paper presents new artificial tissues derived from multiple vesicles, which serve as protocellular models. These tissues are formed and manipulated through non-covalent interactions triggered by a salt bridge. Exhibiting pH-sensitive reversible formation and destruction under neutral conditions, these artificial vesicle tissues demonstrate three distinct higher-order cooperative functionalities: transportation of large cargoes, photo-induced contractions, and enhanced survivability against external threats. The rapid assembly and disassembly of these artificial tissues in response to pH variations enable controlled mechanical task performance. Additionally, the self-healing property of these artificial tissues indicates robustness against external mechanical damage. The research suggests that these vesicles can detect specific pH environments and spontaneously assemble into artificial tissues with advanced functionalities. This leads to the possibility of developing intelligent materials with high environmental specificity, particularly for applications in soft robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Kojima
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan
| | - Yutaro Noguchi
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan
| | - Koichi Terasaka
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan
| | - Kouichi Asakura
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan
| | - Taisuke Banno
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan
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2
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Nomoto T, Kimura H, Chiari L, Toyota T, Fujinami M. Flow-Driven Self-Propulsion of Oil Droplet on a Surfactant Solution Surface, as Observed by Time-Resolved Interfacial Tension and Surface Flow Speed Measurements. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:4468-4474. [PMID: 38363648 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The imbalanced force of the interfacial tension applied to an object has often been taken into account in the analysis of the motion mechanism of self-propelled systems. However, heterogeneous distributions of the interfacial tension also cause Marangoni flows, and these flows also contribute to the self-propulsion through the viscous force. The contribution of such flows has not been observed directly, while the interfacial tension difference has been measured in some systems. In this study, simultaneous measurements of the interfacial tension and surface flow speed of the unidirectional self-propelled motion of a butyl salicylate (BS) droplet in a circular channel on a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aqueous solution were achieved by the quasi-elastic laser scattering method. The droplet position was also recorded by observing its fluorescence excited by a UV light. The BS droplet speed dependence of the interfacial tension and surface flow speed were measured by varying the initial BS concentration codissolved in the SDS aqueous solution. As a result, a periodic decrease of the interfacial tension and a periodic increase of the speed of both forward and backward flows were observed when the droplet passed the sampling position of the time-resolved measurements. When they were converted to the distribution in space of the droplet position, no droplet speed dependence of the interfacial tension difference between the front and rear of the droplet was observed. On the other hand, the speed of both forward and backward flows increased as the droplet speed increased. By analysis of the above results with a simplified model, it was clarified that the forward flow driven by the interfacial tension gradient at the droplet front is actually important in the mechanism of the unidirectional self-propelled motion of a droplet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonori Nomoto
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Haruki Kimura
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Luca Chiari
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Taro Toyota
- Department of Basic Science, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Masanori Fujinami
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
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3
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Tang J, Cheng Y, Ding M, Wang C. Bio-Inspired Far-From-Equilibrium Hydrogels: Design Principles and Applications. Chempluschem 2023; 88:e202300449. [PMID: 37787015 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Inspired from dynamic living systems that operate under out-of-equilibrium conditions in biology, developing supramolecular hydrogels with self-regulating and autonomously dynamic properties to further advance adaptive hydrogels with life-like behavior is important. This review presents recent progress of bio-inspired supramolecular hydrogels out-of-equilibrium. The principle of out-of-equilibrium self-assembly for creating bio-inspired hydrogels is discussed. Various design strategies have been identified, such as chemical-driven reaction cycles with feedback control and physically oscillatory systems. These strategies can be coupled with hydrogels to achieve temporal and spatial control over structural and mechanical properties as well as programmable lifetime. These studies open up huge opportunities for potential applications, such as fluidic guidance, information storage, drug delivery, actuators and more. Finally, we address the challenges ahead of us in the coming years, and future possibilities and prospects are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiadong Tang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Optics, Chongqing Institute of East China Normal University, Chongqing, 401120, China
| | - Yibo Cheng
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Muhua Ding
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Chen Wang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Optics, Chongqing Institute of East China Normal University, Chongqing, 401120, China
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4
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Song Y, Wang L, Xu T, Zhang G, Zhang X. Emerging open-channel droplet arrays for biosensing. Natl Sci Rev 2023; 10:nwad106. [PMID: 38027246 PMCID: PMC10662666 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Open-channel droplet arrays have attracted much attention in the fields of biochemical analysis, biofluid monitoring, biomarker recognition and cell interactions, as they have advantages with regard to miniaturization, parallelization, high-throughput, simplicity and accessibility. Such droplet arrays not only improve the sensitivity and accuracy of a biosensor, but also do not require sophisticated equipment or tedious processes, showing great potential in next-generation miniaturized sensing platforms. This review summarizes typical examples of open-channel microdroplet arrays and focuses on diversified biosensing integrated with multiple signal-output approaches (fluorescence, colorimetric, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), electrochemical, etc.). The limitations and development prospects of open-channel droplet arrays in biosensing are also discussed with regard to the increasing demand for biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongchao Song
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Intelligent Wearable Engineering Research Center of Qingdao, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Lirong Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Tailin Xu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Guangyao Zhang
- Intelligent Wearable Engineering Research Center of Qingdao, Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Xueji Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
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5
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Sumino Y, Yamashita R, Miyaji K, Ishikawa H, Otani M, Yamamoto D, Okita E, Okamoto Y, Krafft MP, Yoshikawa K, Shioi A. Droplet duos on water display pairing, autonomous motion, and periodic eruption. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12377. [PMID: 37524759 PMCID: PMC10390526 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39094-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Under non-equilibrium conditions, liquid droplets dynamically couple with their milieu through the continuous flux of matter and energy, forming active systems capable of self-organizing functions reminiscent of those of living organisms. Among the various dynamic behaviors demonstrated by cells, the pairing of heterogeneous cell units is necessary to enable collective activity and cell fusion (to reprogram somatic cells). Furthermore, the cyclic occurrence of eruptive events such as necroptosis or explosive cell lysis is necessary to maintain cell functions. However, unlike the self-propulsion behavior of cells, cyclic cellular behavior involving pairing and eruption has not been successfully modeled using artificial systems. Here, we show that a simple droplet system based on quasi-immiscible hydrophobic oils (perfluorodecalin and decane) deposited on water, mimics such complex cellular dynamics. Perfluorodecalin and decane droplet duos form autonomously moving Janus or coaxial structures, depending on their volumes. Notably, the system with a coaxial structure demonstrates cyclic behavior, alternating between autonomous motion and eruption. Despite their complexity, the dynamic behaviors of the system are consistently explained in terms of the spreading properties of perfluorodecalin/decane duplex interfacial films.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Sumino
- Department of Applied Physics, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika, Tokyo, 125-8585, Japan.
| | - Ryo Yamashita
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara Miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, 610-0321, Japan
| | - Kazuki Miyaji
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara Miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, 610-0321, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Ishikawa
- Department of Physics, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan
| | - Maho Otani
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara Miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, 610-0321, Japan
| | - Daigo Yamamoto
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara Miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, 610-0321, Japan
| | - Erika Okita
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University, Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka, 599-8531, Japan
| | - Yasunao Okamoto
- Research Center for Membrane and Film Technology, Kobe University, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - Marie Pierre Krafft
- Institut Charles Sadron (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, 23 rue du Loess, 67034, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Kenichi Yoshikawa
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyoto, 610-0394, Japan
- Center for Integrative Medicine and Physics, Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Akihisa Shioi
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara Miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, 610-0321, Japan.
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6
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Rao A, Roy S, Jain V, Pillai PP. Nanoparticle Self-Assembly: From Design Principles to Complex Matter to Functional Materials. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:25248-25274. [PMID: 35715224 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c05378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The creation of matter with varying degrees of complexities and desired functions is one of the ultimate targets of self-assembly. The ability to regulate the complex interactions between the individual components is essential in achieving this target. In this direction, the initial success of controlling the pathways and final thermodynamic states of a self-assembly process is promising. Despite the progress made in the field, there has been a growing interest in pushing the limits of self-assembly processes. The main inception of this interest is that the intended self-assembled state, with varying complexities, may not be "at equilibrium (or at global minimum)", rendering free energy minimization unsuitable to form the desired product. Thus, we believe that a thorough understanding of the design principles as well as the ability to predict the outcome of a self-assembly process is essential to form a collection of the next generation of complex matter. The present review highlights the potent role of finely tuned interparticle interactions in nanomaterials to achieve the preferred self-assembled structures with the desired properties. We believe that bringing the design and prediction to nanoparticle self-assembly processes will have a similar effect as retrosynthesis had on the logic of chemical synthesis. Along with the guiding principles, the review gives a summary of the different types of products created from nanoparticle assemblies and the functional properties emerging from them. Finally, we highlight the reasonable expectations from the field and the challenges lying ahead in the creation of complex and evolvable matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anish Rao
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411 008, India
| | - Sumit Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411 008, India
| | - Vanshika Jain
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411 008, India
| | - Pramod P Pillai
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411 008, India
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7
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Winkens M, Vilcan A, de Visser PJ, de Graaf FV, Korevaar PA. Orbiting Self-Organization of Filament-Tethered Surface-Active Droplets. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2206800. [PMID: 36799188 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202206800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Dissipative chemical systems hold the potential to enable life-like behavior in synthetic matter, such as self-organization, motility, and dynamic switching between different states. Here, out-of-equilibrium self-organization is demonstrated by interconnected source and drain droplets at an air-water interface, which display dynamic behavior due to a hydrolysis reaction that generates a concentration gradient around the drain droplets. This concentration gradient interferes with the adhesion of self-assembled amphiphile filaments that grow from a source droplet. The chemical gradient sustains a unique orbiting of the drain droplet, which is proposed to be driven by the selective adhesion of the filaments to the front of the moving droplet, while filaments approaching from behind are destabilized upon contact with the hydrolysis product in the trail of the droplet. Potential applications are foreseen in the transfer of chemical signals amongst communicating droplets in rearranging networks, and the implementation of chemical reactions to drive complex positioning routines in life-like systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitch Winkens
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandru Vilcan
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter J de Visser
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Freek V de Graaf
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Peter A Korevaar
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
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8
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Zhang Y, Obuchi H, Toyota T. A Practical Guide to Preparation and Applications of Giant Unilamellar Vesicles Formed via Centrifugation of Water-in-Oil Emulsion Droplets. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:440. [PMID: 37103867 PMCID: PMC10144487 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13040440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Giant vesicles (GVs), which are closed lipid bilayer membranes with a diameter of more than 1 μm, have attracted attention not only as model cell membranes but also for the construction of artificial cells. For encapsulating water-soluble materials and/or water-dispersible particles or functionalizing membrane proteins and/or other synthesized amphiphiles, giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) have been applied in various fields, such as supramolecular chemistry, soft matter physics, life sciences, and bioengineering. In this review, we focus on a preparation technique for GUVs that encapsulate water-soluble materials and/or water-dispersible particles. It is based on the centrifugation of a water-in-oil emulsion layered on water and does not require special equipment other than a centrifuge, which makes it the first choice for laboratory use. Furthermore, we review recent studies on GUV-based artificial cells prepared using this technique and discuss their future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiting Zhang
- Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Haruto Obuchi
- Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Taro Toyota
- Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
- Universal Biology Institute, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
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9
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Generation of Fermat's spiral patterns by solutal Marangoni-driven coiling in an aqueous two-phase system. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7206. [PMID: 36418301 PMCID: PMC9684484 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34368-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The solutal Marangoni effect is attracting increasing interest because of its fundamental role in many isothermal directional transport processes in fluids, including the Marangoni-driven spreading on liquid surfaces or Marangoni convection within a liquid. Here we report a type of continuous Marangoni transport process resulting from Marangoni-driven spreading and Marangoni convection in an aqueous two-phase system. The interaction between a salt (CaCl2) and an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate) generates surface tension gradients, which drive the transport process. This Marangoni transport consists of the upward transfer of a filament from a droplet located at the bottom of a bulk solution, coiling of the filament near the surface, and formation of Fermat's spiral patterns on the surface. The bottom-up coiling of the filament, driven by Marangoni convection, may inspire automatic fiber fabrication.
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10
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Roy T, Chaurasia SS, Parmananda P. Phase-flip transition in volume-mismatched pairs of coupled 1-pentanol drops. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:034614. [PMID: 36266858 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.034614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We have explored a variety of synchronization domains and observed phase-flip transition in a pair of coupled 1-pentanol drops as a function of the volume mismatch. Both experimental observations and numerical studies are presented. The experiments were carried out in a rectangular channel in a ferroin deionized water solution premixed with some volume of pentanol. A single pentanol drop (≥ 3μL) performs back and forth oscillations along the length of the channel due to the well-known Marangoni forces. In the present work, for a pair of drops, the drop 1 volume was changed from 3 to 5 μL in steps of 1μL, whereas the drop 2 volume was varied from 1 to 3 μL in steps of 0.5μL. A systematic investigation of all the possible combinations of the drop volumes showed the presence of three different types of synchrony-in-phase, antiphase, and phase-switched. In-phase synchronization was robust for a volume mismatch of >3.0μL between the two drops. On the other hand, antiphase synchronization was robust when the volume mismatch was <2.0μL. The phase-switched state is a synchronized state involving a phase-flip transition in the time domain. This state was observed for the intermediate range of volume mismatch. Numerically, the system has been investigated using two Stuart-Landau oscillators interacting via a coupling function in the form of Lennard-Jones potential. The numerical results suitably capture both in-phase and antiphase oscillations for a pair of volume-mismatched pentanol drops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanushree Roy
- Department of Physics, IIT Bombay, Mumbai-400076, Maharashtra, India
| | | | - P Parmananda
- Department of Physics, IIT Bombay, Mumbai-400076, Maharashtra, India
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11
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Droplets in underlying chemical communication recreate cell interaction behaviors. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3047. [PMID: 35650217 PMCID: PMC9160030 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30834-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The sensory-motor interaction is a hallmark of living systems. However, developing inanimate systems with “recognize and attack” abilities remains challenging. On the other hand, controlling the inter-droplet dynamics on surfaces is key in microengineering and biomedical applications. We show here that a pair of droplets can become intelligently interactive (chemospecific stimulus-response inter-droplet autonomous operation) when placed on a nanoporous thin film surface. We find an attacker-victim-like non-reciprocal interaction between spatially separated droplets leading to an only-in-one shape instability that triggers a drop projection to selectively couple, resembling cellular phenomenologies such as pseudopod emission and phagocytic-like functions. The nanopore-driven underlying communication and associated chemical activity are the main physical ingredients behind the observed behavior. Our results reveal that basic features found in many living cell types can emerge from a simple two-droplet framework. This work is a promising step towards the design of microfluidic smart robotics and for origin-of-life protocell models. While a hallmark of living systems, developing sensory-motor interactions in inanimate systems remains challenging. Here, authors show that nanoporous surfaces can be used to create stimuli-responsive droplet interplay with shape transformation and complex behaviours reminiscent of living cell actions.
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12
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Frank BD, Djalali S, Baryzewska AW, Giusto P, Seeberger PH, Zeininger L. Reversible morphology-resolved chemotactic actuation and motion of Janus emulsion droplets. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2562. [PMID: 35538083 PMCID: PMC9091213 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30229-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We report, for the first time, a chemotactic motion of emulsion droplets that can be controllably and reversibly altered. Our approach is based on using biphasic Janus emulsion droplets, where each phase responds differently to chemically induced interfacial tension gradients. By permanently breaking the symmetry of the droplets’ geometry and composition, externally evoked gradients in surfactant concentration or effectiveness induce anisotropic Marangoni-type fluid flows adjacent to each of the two different exposed interfaces. Regulation of the competitive fluid convections then enables a controllable alteration of the speed and the direction of the droplets’ chemotactic motion. Our findings provide insight into how compositional anisotropy can affect the chemotactic behavior of purely liquid-based microswimmers. This has implications for the design of smart and adaptive soft microrobots that can autonomously regulate their response to changes in their chemical environment by chemotactically moving towards or away from a certain target, such as a bacterium. Artificial microswimmers can emulate the autonomous regulation of chemotactic motility of living organisms. Frank et al. realize a chemotactic locomotion of emulsion droplets, composed of two phase-separated fluids, that can be reversibly directed up or down a chemical concentration gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley D Frank
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Saveh Djalali
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Agata W Baryzewska
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Paolo Giusto
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Peter H Seeberger
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Lukas Zeininger
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
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13
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Out-of-equilibrium chemical logic systems: Light and sound controlled programmable spatiotemporal patterns and mechanical functions. Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2022.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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14
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Identifying and Manipulating Giant Vesicles: Review of Recent Approaches. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13050644. [PMID: 35630111 PMCID: PMC9144095 DOI: 10.3390/mi13050644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Giant vesicles (GVs) are closed bilayer membranes that primarily comprise amphiphiles with diameters of more than 1 μm. Compared with regular vesicles (several tens of nanometers in size), GVs are of greater scientific interest as model cell membranes and protocells because of their structure and size, which are similar to those of biological systems. Biopolymers and nano-/microparticles can be encapsulated in GVs at high concentrations, and their application as artificial cell bodies has piqued interest. It is essential to develop methods for investigating and manipulating the properties of GVs toward engineering applications. In this review, we discuss current improvements in microscopy, micromanipulation, and microfabrication technologies for progress in GV identification and engineering tools. Combined with the advancement of GV preparation technologies, these technological advancements can aid the development of artificial cell systems such as alternative tissues and GV-based chemical signal processing systems.
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15
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Roy T, Chaurasia SS, Cruz JM, Pimienta V, Parmananda P. Modes of synchrony in self-propelled pentanol drops. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:1688-1695. [PMID: 35146497 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01488a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We report various modes of synchrony observed for a population of two, three and four pentanol drops in a rectangular channel at the air-water interface. Initially, the autonomous oscillations of a single 1-pentanol drop were studied in a ferroin DI water solution pre-mixed with some volume of pentanol. A pentanol drop performs continuous motion on the air-water interface due to Marangoni forces. A linear channel was prepared to study the uniaxial movement of the drop(s). Thereafter, a systematic study of the self-propelled motion of a 1-pentanol drop was reported as a function of the drop volume. Subsequently, the coupled dynamics were studied for two, three and four drops, respectively. We observed anti-phase oscillations in a pair of pentanol drops. In the case of three drops, relay synchronization was observed, wherein consecutive pairs of drops were exhibiting out-of-phase oscillations and alternate drops were performing in-phase oscillations. Four pentanol drops showed two different modes of synchrony: one was relay synchrony and the other was out-of-phase oscillations between two pairs of drops (within a pair, the drops exhibit in-phase oscillations).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanushree Roy
- Department of Physics, IIT Bombay, Mumbai 400076, Maharashtra, India.
| | | | - José-Manuel Cruz
- Facultad de Ciencias en Física y Matemáticas, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas 29050, Mexico
| | - V Pimienta
- Laboratoire des IMRCP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5623, Université Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne 31062, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - P Parmananda
- Department of Physics, IIT Bombay, Mumbai 400076, Maharashtra, India.
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16
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Kumar DJP, Borkar C, Dayal P. Fast-Moving Self-Propelled Droplets of a Nanocatalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky Reaction. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:12586-12595. [PMID: 34670083 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c01887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Self-sustained locomotion by virtue of an internalized chemical reaction is a characteristic feature of living systems and has inspired researchers to develop such self-moving biomimetic systems. Here, we harness a self-oscillating Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction, a well-known chemical oscillator, with enhanced kinetics by virtue of our graphene-based catalytic mats, to elucidate the spontaneous locomotion of BZ reaction droplets. Specifically, our nanocatalysts comprise ruthenium nanoparticle decorations on graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, and graphene nanosheets, thereby creating 0D-2D heterostructures. We demonstrate that when these nanocatalyzed droplets of the BZ reaction are placed in an oil-surfactant medium, they exhibit a macroscopic translatory motion at the velocities of few millimeters per second. This motion is brought about by the combination of enhanced kinetics of the BZ reaction and the Marangoni effect. Our investigations reveal that the velocity of locomotion increases with the electrical conductivity of our nanocomposites. Moreover, we also show that the positive feedback generated by the reaction-diffusion phenomena results in an asymmetric distribution of surface tension that, in turn, facilitates the self-propelled motion of the BZ droplets. Finally, we explore a system of multiple nanocatalyzed BZ droplets and reveal a variety of motions caused by their mutual interactions. Our findings suggest that through the use of 0D-2D hybrid nanomaterials, it is possible to design fast-moving self-propelled synthetic objects for a variety of biomimetic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Jaya Prasanna Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355, India
| | - Chaitra Borkar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355, India
| | - Pratyush Dayal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355, India
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17
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Kichatov B, Korshunov A, Sudakov V, Gubernov V, Kolobov A, Korshunova E, Kiverin A. Oscillating Motion of Oil Droplets in the Emulsion Near the Air-Water Interface. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:10373-10382. [PMID: 34470210 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c06128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Numerous living organisms as well as artificially created self-propelled objects can form dissipative structures due to the nonlinear effects and nonequilibrium of the system. Here we present an active oil-in-water emulsion in which the oil droplets take part in the reciprocating motion under the action of Marangoni flow near the air-water interface. The droplet dynamics in the emulsion is governed by the chemical reaction proceeding between quiescent copper particles and ammonia and by the convective mixing of a surfactant. We established that the reciprocating motion of droplets in the emulsion arises as a result of a periodic change in the Marangoni flow direction at the air-water interface. The feature of the considered system is that the reciprocating motion of droplets is realized only when the surface area fraction of droplets in the emulsion is close to the density of a two-dimensional colloid crystal. Oscillations degenerate under the reduction in surface area fraction to the critical value of ∼50% since the existence of oscillations in the emulsion requires a suppression of the surfactant convective mixing between the inner layers of liquid film and the air-water interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Kichatov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey Korshunov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir Sudakov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia.,Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Vladimir Gubernov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey Kolobov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Korshunova
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey Kiverin
- Joint Institute for High Temperatures, Russian Academy of Sciences, 125412 Moscow, Russia.,Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 105005 Moscow, Russia
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18
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Kichatov B, Korshunov A, Sudakov V, Gubernov V, Golubkov A, Kiverin A. Superfast Active Droplets as Micromotors for Locomotion of Passive Droplets and Intensification of Mixing. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:38877-38885. [PMID: 34351762 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c09912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Micromotors are fascinating objects that are able to move autonomously and perform various complex tasks related to drug delivery, chemical processes, and environmental remediation. Among the types of micromotors, droplet-based micromotors are characterized by a wide range of functional properties related to the capability of encapsulation and deformation and the possibility of using them as microreactors. Relevant problems of micromotor utilization in the chemical processes include intensification of mixing and locomotion of passive objects. In this paper, the technique for preparation of superfast active droplets, which can be used as micromotors for effective locomotion of passive droplets in the oil-in-water emulsion, is demonstrated. The possibility of passive droplet locomotion in the emulsion is determined by a relation between the diameters of active and passive droplets. If the diameter of active droplets is larger than the diameter of passive droplets, the agglomerates form spontaneously in the emulsion and move in a straight line. In the case of the opposite relation between diameters, the agglomerates consisting of active and passive droplets rotate intensively. This makes it impossible to move the passive droplets to a given distance. Such micromotors can achieve unprecedentedly high velocities of motion and can be used to intensify mixing on the microscales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Kichatov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey Korshunov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir Sudakov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Vladimir Gubernov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexandr Golubkov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey Kiverin
- Joint Institute for High Temperatures, Russian Academy of Sciences, 125412 Moscow, Russia
- Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 105005 Moscow, Russia
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19
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Kichatov B, Korshunov A, Sudakov V, Gubernov V, Golubkov A, Kiverin A. Self-Organization of Active Droplets into Vortex-like Structures. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:9892-9900. [PMID: 34347492 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c01615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Natural or artificial active objects can demonstrate mirror asymmetry of collective motion when they are moving coherently in a vortex. The majority of known cases related to the emergence of collective dynamical chirality are referred to as active objects with individual structure chirality and/or dynamical chirality. Here, we demonstrate that dynamically and structurally achiral active droplets can self-organize into vortex-like structures. Octane droplets dispersed in the aqueous solution of an anionic surfactant are activated with ammonia addition. The motion of droplets is due to the Marangoni flow emerging at the interfaces of the droplets. We found out that different modes of vortex motion of droplets in the emulsion can arise depending on the size of the region that confines the motion of the droplets and their number density and velocity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Kichatov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey Korshunov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir Sudakov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Vladimir Gubernov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexandr Golubkov
- Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey Kiverin
- Joint Institute for High Temperatures, Russian Academy of Sciences, 125412 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow State Technical University by N.E. Bauman, 105005 Moscow, Russia
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20
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Thakur S, Dasmahapatra AK, Bandyopadhyay D. Functional liquid droplets for analyte sensing and energy harvesting. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 294:102453. [PMID: 34120038 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2021.102453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the past century, rapid miniaturization of technologies has helped in the development of efficient, flexible, portable, robust, and compact applications with minimal wastage of materials. In this direction, of late, the usage of mesoscale liquid droplets has emerged as an alternative platform because of the following advantages: (i) a droplet is incompressible and at the same time deformable, (ii) interfacial area of a spherical droplet is minimum for a given amount of mass; and (iii) a droplet interface allows facile mass, momentum, and energy transfer. Subsequently, such attributes have aided towards the design of diverse droplet-based microfluidic technologies. For example, the microdroplets have been utilized as micro-reactors, colorimetric or electrochemical (EC) sensors, drug-delivery vehicles, and energy harvesters. Further, a number of recently reported lab-on-a-chip technologies exploit the motility, storage, and mixing capacities of the microdroplets. In view of this background, the review initiates discussion by highlighting the different attributes of the microdroplets such as size, shape, surface to volume ratio, wettability, and contact line. Thereafter, the effects of the surface or body forces on the properties of the droplets have been elaborated. Finally, the different aspects of such liquid droplet systems towards technological adaptations in health care, sensing, and energy harvesting have been presented. The review concludes with a tight summary on the potential avenues for further developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Thakur
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Dasmahapatra
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India; Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Dipankar Bandyopadhyay
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India; Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India.
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21
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Cheon SI, Silva LBC, Khair AS, Zarzar LD. Interfacially-adsorbed particles enhance the self-propulsion of oil droplets in aqueous surfactant. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:6742-6750. [PMID: 34223843 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm02234a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the chemo-mechanical mechanisms that direct the motion of self-propulsive colloids is important for the development of active materials and exploration of dynamic, collective phenomena. Here, we demonstrate that the adsorption of solid particles on the surface of solubilizing oil droplets can significantly enhance the droplets' self-propulsion speeds. We investigate the relationship between the self-propulsion of bromodecane oil droplets containing silica particles of varying concentration in Triton X-100 surfactant, noting up to order of magnitude increases in propulsion speeds. Using fluorescently labeled silica, we observe packing of the particles at the oil-water interfaces of the rear pole of the moving droplets. For bromodecane oil droplets in Triton X-100, the highest droplet speeds were achieved at approximately 40% particle surface coverage of the droplet interface. We find particle-assisted propulsion enhancement in ionic surfactants and different oil droplet compositions as well, demonstrating the breadth of this effect. While a precise mechanism for the propulsion enhancement remains unclear, the simple addition of silica particles to droplet oil-water interfaces provides a straightforward route to tune active droplet dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Ik Cheon
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | | | - Aditya S Khair
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Lauren D Zarzar
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA and Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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22
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Pavlovic M, Antonietti M, Zeininger L. Cascade communication in disordered networks of enzyme-loaded microdroplets. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:1631-1634. [PMID: 33459334 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc08310k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A network of aqueous emulsion droplets that exhibits programmed and directional chemical inter-droplet communication is described. A non-reciprocal transfer of substrates between enzyme-containing aqueous emulsion droplets is realized by (biochemically) induced osmolarity gradients and concomitant concentration gradients are used to direct a multistep enzymatic cascade reaction across multiple droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Pavlovic
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
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23
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Dynamic emulsion droplets enabled by interfacial assembly of azobenzene-functionalized nanoparticles under light and magnetic field. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 583:586-593. [PMID: 33038608 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.09.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS The ability to control the assembly of micro/nanosized particles at liquid-liquid interface with external inputs promises new opportunities in nanofabrication and biomedicines. This work aims to demonstrate a way to control of dynamic assembly of nanoparticles at liquid-liquid interface by light and magnetic field, which consequently enables the formation of dynamic emulsion droplets. EXPERIMENTS Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles functionalized with azobenzene moieties (Fe3O4@AZO) were synthesized and were dispersed in toluene/(N,N-dimethylformamide, DMF) binary solvent. After irradiation with UV or visible light, the assembly behavior of these Fe3O4 nanoparticles were evaluated by electron microscopy and fluorescent microscopy. FINDINGS Under UV light, Fe3O4@AZO nanoparticles were self-assembled due to the increase of dipolar interaction from the photoisomerization of azobenzene and polar molecules, DMF, were harvested from a binary solvent of DMF/toluene. While under visible light, a relief of dipolar interactions between Fe3O4@AZO nanoparticles can induce the secondary assembly of these Fe3O4@AZO nanoparticles at DMF-toluene interface, resulting in DMF droplets covered by a layer of nanoparticle superlattices. More importantly, coupled with a magnetic field, these emulsion droplets can be shaped into one dimensional ones during the interfacial assembly process, thereby giving rise to dynamic emulsions controlled by light and magnetic field.
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24
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Xiao Y, Martino N, Wagner K, Spinks GM, Officer DL, Wagner P. Photocontrolled directional transport using water-in-oil droplets. NEW J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d0nj04913a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Photocontrolled directional transport in both 2D and 3D of water-in-oil droplets was achieved by merocyanine/spiropyran photoisomerization in the droplet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xiao
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science
- AIIM Faculty
- Innovation Campus
- University of Wollongong
- North Wollongong
| | - Nicolas Martino
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute
- AIIM Faculty
- Innovation Campus
- University of Wollongong
- North Wollongong
| | - Klaudia Wagner
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science
- AIIM Faculty
- Innovation Campus
- University of Wollongong
- North Wollongong
| | - Geoffrey M. Spinks
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science
- AIIM Faculty
- Innovation Campus
- University of Wollongong
- North Wollongong
| | - David L. Officer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science
- AIIM Faculty
- Innovation Campus
- University of Wollongong
- North Wollongong
| | - Pawel Wagner
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science
- AIIM Faculty
- Innovation Campus
- University of Wollongong
- North Wollongong
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25
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Meredith CH, Moerman PG, Groenewold J, Chiu YJ, Kegel WK, van Blaaderen A, Zarzar LD. Predator–prey interactions between droplets driven by non-reciprocal oil exchange. Nat Chem 2020; 12:1136-1142. [DOI: 10.1038/s41557-020-00575-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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26
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Nauruzbayeva J, Sun Z, Gallo A, Ibrahim M, Santamarina JC, Mishra H. Electrification at water-hydrophobe interfaces. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5285. [PMID: 33082321 PMCID: PMC7576844 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19054-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms leading to the electrification of water when it comes in contact with hydrophobic surfaces remains a research frontier in chemical science. A clear understanding of these mechanisms could, for instance, aid the rational design of triboelectric generators and micro- and nano-fluidic devices. Here, we investigate the origins of the excess positive charges incurred on water droplets that are dispensed from capillaries made of polypropylene, perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane-coated glass, and polytetrafluoroethylene. Results demonstrate that the magnitude and sign of electrical charges vary depending on: the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of the capillary; the presence/absence of a water reservoir inside the capillary; the chemical and physical properties of aqueous solutions such as pH, ionic strength, dielectric constant and dissolved CO2 content; and environmental conditions such as relative humidity. Based on these results, we deduce that common hydrophobic materials possess surface-bound negative charge. Thus, when these surfaces are submerged in water, hydrated cations form an electrical double layer. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the primary role of hydrophobicity is to facilitate water-substrate separation without leaving a significant amount of liquid behind. These results advance the fundamental understanding of water-hydrophobe interfaces and should translate into superior materials and technologies for energy transduction, electrowetting, and separation processes, among others. Electrification of water upon contact with hydrophobic surfaces is a ubiquitous but poorly understood phenomenon. Here, the authors pinpoint the factors responsible for the excess positive charge carried by water droplets dispensed from hydrophobic capillaries, thereby answering some outstanding questions and raising new ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamilya Nauruzbayeva
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Thuwal, 23955 - 6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zhonghao Sun
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center (ANPERC), Division of Physical Science and Engineering, Thuwal, 23955 - 6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adair Gallo
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Thuwal, 23955 - 6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Ibrahim
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Thuwal, 23955 - 6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - J Carlos Santamarina
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center (ANPERC), Division of Physical Science and Engineering, Thuwal, 23955 - 6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Himanshu Mishra
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Thuwal, 23955 - 6900, Saudi Arabia.
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27
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Malinowski R, Parkin IP, Volpe G. Nonmonotonic contactless manipulation of binary droplets via sensing of localized vapor sources on pristine substrates. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/40/eaba3636. [PMID: 32998894 PMCID: PMC7556999 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba3636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Droplet motion on surfaces influences phenomena as diverse as microfluidic liquid handling, printing technology, and energy harvesting. Typically, droplets are set in motion by inducing energy gradients on a substrate or flow on their free surface. Current configurations for controllable droplet manipulation have limited applicability as they rely on carefully tailored wettability gradients and/or bespoke substrates. Here, we demonstrate the nonmonotonic contactless long-range manipulation of binary droplets on pristine substrates due to the sensing of localized water vapor sources. The droplet-source system presents an unexpected off-centered equilibrium position. We capture the underlying mechanism behind this symmetry breaking with a simplified model based on the full two-dimensional functional form of the surface tension gradient induced by the source on the droplet's free surface. This insight on the transport mechanism enables us to demonstrate its versatility for applications by printing, aligning, and reacting materials controllably in space and time on pristine substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Malinowski
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Ivan P Parkin
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Giorgio Volpe
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, UK.
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28
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Ai Y, Xie R, Xiong J, Liang Q. Microfluidics for Biosynthesizing: from Droplets and Vesicles to Artificial Cells. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1903940. [PMID: 31603270 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201903940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Fabrication of artificial biomimetic materials has attracted abundant attention. As one of the subcategories of biomimetic materials, artificial cells are highly significant for multiple disciplines and their synthesis has been intensively pursued. In order to manufacture robust "alive" artificial cells with high throughput, easy operation, and precise control, flexible microfluidic techniques are widely utilized. Herein, recent advances in microfluidic-based methods for the synthesis of droplets, vesicles, and artificial cells are summarized. First, the advances of droplet fabrication and manipulation on the T-junction, flow-focusing, and coflowing microfluidic devices are discussed. Then, the formation of unicompartmental and multicompartmental vesicles based on microfluidics are summarized. Furthermore, the engineering of droplet-based and vesicle-based artificial cells by microfluidics is also reviewed. Moreover, the artificial cells applied for imitating cell behavior and acting as bioreactors for synthetic biology are highlighted. Finally, the current challenges and future trends in microfluidic-based artificial cells are discussed. This review should be helpful for researchers in the fields of microfluidics, biomaterial fabrication, and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjian Ai
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Ruoxiao Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Jialiang Xiong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Qionglin Liang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
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29
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Grizou J, Points LJ, Sharma A, Cronin L. A curious formulation robot enables the discovery of a novel protocell behavior. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaay4237. [PMID: 32064348 PMCID: PMC6994213 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay4237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
We describe a chemical robotic assistant equipped with a curiosity algorithm (CA) that can efficiently explore the states a complex chemical system can exhibit. The CA-robot is designed to explore formulations in an open-ended way with no explicit optimization target. By applying the CA-robot to the study of self-propelling multicomponent oil-in-water protocell droplets, we are able to observe an order of magnitude more variety in droplet behaviors than possible with a random parameter search and given the same budget. We demonstrate that the CA-robot enabled the observation of a sudden and highly specific response of droplets to slight temperature changes. Six modes of self-propelled droplet motion were identified and classified using a time-temperature phase diagram and probed using a variety of techniques including NMR. This work illustrates how CAs can make better use of a limited experimental budget and significantly increase the rate of unpredictable observations, leading to new discoveries with potential applications in formulation chemistry.
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30
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Kowacz M, Pollack GH. Moving Water Droplets: The Role of Atmospheric CO2 and Incident Radiant Energy in Charge Separation at the Air–Water Interface. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:11003-11013. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b09161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kowacz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Box 355061, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Gerald H. Pollack
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Box 355061, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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31
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Complete inclusion of bioactive molecules and particles in polydimethylsiloxane: a straightforward process under mild conditions. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17575. [PMID: 31772250 PMCID: PMC6879495 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54155-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
By applying a slow curing process, we show that biomolecules can be incorporated via a simple process as liquid stable phases inside a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The process is carried out under mild conditions with regards to temperature, pH and relative humidity, and is thus suitable for application to biological entities. Fluorescence and enzymatic activity measurements show that the biochemical properties of the proteins and enzyme tested are preserved, without loss due to adsorption at the liquid-polymer interface. Protected from external stimuli by the PDMS matrix, these soft liquid composite materials are new tools of interest for robotics, microfluidics, diagnostics and chemical microreactors.
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32
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Zarghami S, Xiao Y, Wagner P, Florea L, Diamond D, Officer DL, Wagner K. Dual Droplet Functionality: Phototaxis and Photopolymerization. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:31484-31489. [PMID: 31365224 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b08697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The use of phototaxis to move droplets in liquids offers the opportunity to emulate natural processes such as the controlled transport of materials in fluidic environments and to undertake chemistry at specific locations. We have developed a photoactive organic droplet, whose movement in aqueous solution is driven by a photoinitiator, as a result of a light-induced reaction within the droplet generating a Marangoni flow. The photoinitiator not only drives the droplet motion but can also be used to initiate polymerization following transfer of the droplet to a specific location and its merging with a monomer-containing droplet. The same light is used to control the transport of the droplet and the polymerization. The efficacy of this droplet transport and reactor system has been demonstrated by the site-specific underwater polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide to repair a leaking vessel and the adhesion of two materials together.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Larisa Florea
- Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (AMBER), Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices and School of Chemistry , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin 2 , Ireland
| | - Dermot Diamond
- Insight Centre for Data Analytics, National Centre for Sensor Research , Dublin City University , Dublin 9 , Ireland
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Li Y, Khuu N, Prince E, Alizadehgiashi M, Galati E, Lavrentovich OD, Kumacheva E. Nanoparticle-laden droplets of liquid crystals: Interactive morphogenesis and dynamic assembly. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaav1035. [PMID: 31281879 PMCID: PMC6611685 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav1035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Defects in liquid crystals serve as templates for nanoparticle (NP) organization; however, NP assembly in cholesteric (Ch) liquid crystals is only beginning to emerge. We show interactive morphogenesis of NP assemblies and a Ch liquid crystalline host formed by cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), in which both the host and the guest experience marked changes in shape and structure as a function of concentration. At low NP loading, Ch-CNC droplets exhibit flat-ellipsoidal packing of Ch pseudolayers, while the NPs form a toroidal ring- or two cone-shaped assemblies at droplet poles. Increase in NP loading triggers reversible droplet transformation to gain a core-shell morphology with an isotropic core and a Ch shell, with NPs partitioning in the core and in disclinations. We show programmable assembly of droplets carrying magnetic NPs. This work offers a strategy for NP organization in Ch liquid crystals, thus broadening the spectrum of architectures of soft nanostructured materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Corresponding author. (E.K.); (O.D.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Nancy Khuu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Elisabeth Prince
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Moien Alizadehgiashi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Galati
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Oleg D. Lavrentovich
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Department of Physics, and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
- Corresponding author. (E.K.); (O.D.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
- Corresponding author. (E.K.); (O.D.L.); (Y.L.)
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34
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Helseth LE. The Influence of Microscale Surface Roughness on Water-Droplet Contact Electrification. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:8268-8275. [PMID: 31142118 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b00988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
When water comes in contact with a hydrophobic fluoropolymer, a triboelectric charge tends to form on the surface. Here, it is investigated how the triboelectric charge formed upon contact with water drops depends on the microscale surface statistics of the polymer. In particular, it is found that the transition to a superhydrophobic fakir state results in a considerable reduction in triboelectric contact charge, due to a reduced liquid?solid contact area. Thus, when processing charge-sensitive electronic systems one may want to utilize such surfaces promoting reduced tribocharging. This also has implications for energy harvesting purposes, where one may collect electrical energy by letting water droplets move on the polymer with an interdigitated current-collecting electrode on its back side. In such a situation, it is observed that the surfaces promoting the superhydrophobic fakir state give rise to larger water droplet velocities and smaller collected charge, which explains the need for careful assessment of surface treatment before applying microstructured polymers for water droplet energy harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Helseth
- Department of Physics and Technology , University of Bergen , Allegaten 55, 5020 Bergen , Norway
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35
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Forth J, Kim PY, Xie G, Liu X, Helms BA, Russell TP. Building Reconfigurable Devices Using Complex Liquid-Fluid Interfaces. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1806370. [PMID: 30828869 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201806370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-fluid interfaces provide a platform both for structuring liquids into complex shapes and assembling dimensionally confined, functional nanomaterials. Historically, attention in this area has focused on simple emulsions and foams, in which surface-active materials such as surfactants or colloids stabilize structures against coalescence and alter the mechanical properties of the interface. In recent decades, however, a growing body of work has begun to demonstrate the full potential of the assembly of nanomaterials at liquid-fluid interfaces to generate functionally advanced, biomimetic systems. Here, a broad overview is given, from fundamentals to applications, of the use of liquid-fluid interfaces to generate complex, all-liquid devices with a myriad of potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Forth
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Paul Y Kim
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Ganhua Xie
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, 120 Governors Drive, Conte Center for Polymer Research, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Xubo Liu
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Brett A Helms
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, 120 Governors Drive, Conte Center for Polymer Research, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
- WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
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36
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Kita Y, Mackenzie Dover C, Askounis A, Takata Y, Sefiane K. Drop mobility on superhydrophobic microstructured surfaces with wettability contrasts. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:9418-9424. [PMID: 30427033 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm01762j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Manipulation of drop motion has attracted considerable attention recently as it is pertinent to industrial/biological applications such as microfluidics. Wettability gradients/contrasts applied to microtextured, superhydrophobic surfaces are probable candidates for engineering drop motion by virtue of their wettability controllability and low contact angle hysteresis. In the present work, we present a systematic study of drop mobility induced via wettability contrasts. A millimetre-sized water drop, placed on the boundary between two surfaces with distinct, uniform arrays of pillars, immediately moved toward the surface more densely populated with asperities, which was relatively more hydrophilic. The velocity of the motion was found to increase proportionally with the difference in pillar densities on each surface, in circumstances where the rear side surface had sufficiently small contact angle hysteresis. To elucidate the underlying mechanism of drop motion, we implemented a surface energy analysis for each motion event. Motion was initiated by the excess surface free energy due to drop deformation and directed in favour of energy minimisation. Lastly, we propose a theory to predict the direction of the drop which at the same time acts as the criterion for the motion to ensue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaku Kita
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-Ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
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37
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Cheng G, Pérez-Mercader J. Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly for Artificial Biology: Opportunities and Challenges. Macromol Rapid Commun 2018; 40:e1800513. [DOI: 10.1002/marc.201800513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gong Cheng
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Origins of Life Initiative; Harvard University; 20 Oxford Street Cambridge MA 02138 USA
| | - Juan Pérez-Mercader
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Origins of Life Initiative; Harvard University; 20 Oxford Street Cambridge MA 02138 USA
- Santa Fe Institute; Santa Fe NM 87501 USA
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38
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Nguyen T, Phan CM. Influence of Hydrophilicity on the Thermal-Driven Surfactant Flow at the Air/Water Surface. ACS OMEGA 2018; 3:9060-9065. [PMID: 31459040 PMCID: PMC6645394 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b00733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A series of Triton surfactants with increasing number of ethylene oxide (EO) groups were applied to investigate thermal-driven surface flow. It was found that the thermal gradient is proportional to the number of EO groups on the surface. This correlation leads to the linear correlation between the surfactant structure and the driving force of the surface flow. The friction force, in contrast, follows a monotonic but nonlinear correlation with surfactant's EO groups. The results demonstrate the possibilities to manipulate the surface flow, with potential applications in multiple-phase systems.
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39
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Xiao Y, Zarghami S, Wagner K, Wagner P, Gordon KC, Florea L, Diamond D, Officer DL. Moving Droplets in 3D Using Light. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1801821. [PMID: 29984459 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201801821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The emulation of the complex cellular and bacterial vesicles used to transport materials through fluids has the potential to add revolutionary capabilities to fluidic platforms. Although a number of artificial motile vesicles or microdroplets have been demonstrated previously, control over their movement in liquid in 3D has not been achieved. Here it is shown that by adding a chemical "fuel," a photoactive material, to the droplet, it can be moved in any direction (3D) in water using simple light sources without the need for additives in the water. The droplets can be made up of a range of solvents and move with speeds as high as 10.4 mm s-1 toward or away from the irradiation source as a result of a light-induced isothermal change in interfacial tension (Marangoni flow). It is further demonstrated that more complex functions can be accomplished by merging a photoactive droplet with a droplet carrying a "cargo" and moving the new larger droplet to a "reactor" droplet where the cargo undergoes a chemical reaction. The control and versatility of this light-activated, motile droplet system will open up new possibilities for fluidic chemical transport and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xiao
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science and Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Faculty, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Sara Zarghami
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science and Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Faculty, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Klaudia Wagner
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science and Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Faculty, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Pawel Wagner
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science and Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Faculty, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Keith C Gordon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Larisa Florea
- Insight Centre for Data Analytics, National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Dermot Diamond
- Insight Centre for Data Analytics, National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - David L Officer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science and Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Faculty, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
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40
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Otero J, Meeker S, Clegg PS. Compositional ripening of particle-stabilized drops in a three-liquid system. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:3783-3790. [PMID: 29714797 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm02502e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We present experimental studies of two aqueous drops, stabilized by colloidal silica, which are placed close to each other in a bath of toluene, ethanol and surplus colloidal silica. If one of the drops is enriched in ethanol while the other is pure water then we observe the spontaneous formation of small droplets at the surface of the water drop closest to its neighbour. These droplets are then observed to form all along the path to the ethanol enriched drop until they make a complete bridge. We relate this behaviour to the diffusion pathways on the underlying three-fluid phase diagram. We argue that the phenomena is a version of compositional ripening where the transfer of the dispersed phase leads to the spontaneous formation of droplets in the continuous phase. We show that, while the large drops are particle-stabilized, the spontaneously formed droplets are not. Instead the presence of surplus particles leads to the droplets gelling as an elastic bridge. The phenomenology at long times and at low particle concentrations becomes increasingly surprising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Otero
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK.
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41
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Grzybowski BA, Fitzner K, Paczesny J, Granick S. From dynamic self-assembly to networked chemical systems. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 46:5647-5678. [PMID: 28703815 DOI: 10.1039/c7cs00089h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Although dynamic self-assembly, DySA, is a relatively new area of research, the past decade has brought numerous demonstrations of how various types of components - on scales from (macro)molecular to macroscopic - can be arranged into ordered structures thriving in non-equilibrium, steady states. At the same time, none of these dynamic assemblies has so far proven practically relevant, prompting questions about the field's prospects and ultimate objectives. The main thesis of this Review is that formation of dynamic assemblies cannot be an end in itself - instead, we should think more ambitiously of using such assemblies as control elements (reconfigurable catalysts, nanomachines, etc.) of larger, networked systems directing sequences of chemical reactions or assembly tasks. Such networked systems would be inspired by biology but intended to operate in environments and conditions incompatible with living matter (e.g., in organic solvents, elevated temperatures, etc.). To realize this vision, we need to start considering not only the interactions mediating dynamic self-assembly of individual components, but also how components of different types could coexist and communicate within larger, multicomponent ensembles. Along these lines, the review starts with the discussion of the conceptual foundations of self-assembly in equilibrium and non-equilibrium regimes. It discusses key examples of interactions and phenomena that can provide the basis for various DySA modalities (e.g., those driven by light, magnetic fields, flows, etc.). It then focuses on the recent examples where organization of components in steady states is coupled to other processes taking place in the system (catalysis, formation of dynamic supramolecular materials, control of chirality, etc.). With these examples of functional DySA, we then look forward and consider conditions that must be fulfilled to allow components of multiple types to coexist, function, and communicate with one another within the networked DySA systems of the future. As the closing examples show, such systems are already appearing heralding new opportunities - and, to be sure, new challenges - for DySA research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz A Grzybowski
- IBS Center for Soft and Living Matter, UNIST, UNIST-gil 50, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, 689-798, Republic of Korea.
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42
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Artificial intelligence exploration of unstable protocells leads to predictable properties and discovery of collective behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:885-890. [PMID: 29339510 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1711089115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Protocell models are used to investigate how cells might have first assembled on Earth. Some, like oil-in-water droplets, can be seemingly simple models, while able to exhibit complex and unpredictable behaviors. How such simple oil-in-water systems can come together to yield complex and life-like behaviors remains a key question. Herein, we illustrate how the combination of automated experimentation and image processing, physicochemical analysis, and machine learning allows significant advances to be made in understanding the driving forces behind oil-in-water droplet behaviors. Utilizing >7,000 experiments collected using an autonomous robotic platform, we illustrate how smart automation cannot only help with exploration, optimization, and discovery of new behaviors, but can also be core to developing fundamental understanding of such systems. Using this process, we were able to relate droplet formulation to behavior via predicted physical properties, and to identify and predict more occurrences of a rare collective droplet behavior, droplet swarming. Proton NMR spectroscopic and qualitative pH methods enabled us to better understand oil dissolution, chemical change, phase transitions, and droplet and aqueous phase flows, illustrating the utility of the combination of smart-automation and traditional analytical chemistry techniques. We further extended our study for the simultaneous exploration of both the oil and aqueous phases using a robotic platform. Overall, this work shows that the combination of chemistry, robotics, and artificial intelligence enables discovery, prediction, and mechanistic understanding in ways that no one approach could achieve alone.
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43
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Yang Z, Wei J, Sobolev YI, Grzybowski BA. Systems of mechanized and reactive droplets powered by multi-responsive surfactants. Nature 2018; 553:313-318. [DOI: 10.1038/nature25137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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44
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Park JH, Lach S, Polev K, Granick S, Grzybowski BA. Metal-Organic Framework "Swimmers" with Energy-Efficient Autonomous Motility. ACS NANO 2017; 11:10914-10923. [PMID: 29068658 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b04644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Placed at a water/air interface, particles of porphyrin-based MOFs (metal-organic frameworks) cut from large-area films display efficient, multiple-use autonomous motility powered by release of solvents incorporated in the MOF matrix and directionality dictated by their shapes. The particles can be refueled multiple times and can achieve speeds of ca. 200 mm·s-1 with high kinetic energy per unit of chemical "fuel" expended (>50 μJ·g-1). Efficiency of motion depends on the nature of the fuel used as well as the microstructure and surface wettability of the MOF surface. When multiple movers are present at the interface, they organize into "open" structures that exhibit collective, time-periodic motions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun H Park
- IBS Center for Soft and Living Matter, ‡Department of Chemistry, and §Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) , UNIST-gil 50, Ulsan 689-798, South Korea
| | - Slawomir Lach
- IBS Center for Soft and Living Matter, ‡Department of Chemistry, and §Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) , UNIST-gil 50, Ulsan 689-798, South Korea
| | - Konstantin Polev
- IBS Center for Soft and Living Matter, ‡Department of Chemistry, and §Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) , UNIST-gil 50, Ulsan 689-798, South Korea
| | - Steve Granick
- IBS Center for Soft and Living Matter, ‡Department of Chemistry, and §Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) , UNIST-gil 50, Ulsan 689-798, South Korea
| | - Bartosz A Grzybowski
- IBS Center for Soft and Living Matter, ‡Department of Chemistry, and §Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) , UNIST-gil 50, Ulsan 689-798, South Korea
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45
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Zhang M, Ettelaie R, Yan T, Zhang S, Cheng F, Binks BP, Yang H. Ionic Liquid Droplet Microreactor for Catalysis Reactions Not at Equilibrium. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:17387-17396. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b07731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhang
- School
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Rammile Ettelaie
- Food
Colloids Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Tao Yan
- School
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Suojiang Zhang
- Beijing
Key Laboratory of Ionic Liquids Clean Process, Key Laboratory of Green
Process and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Fangqin Cheng
- Institute
of Resources and Environment Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Bernard P. Binks
- School
of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Hengquan Yang
- School
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
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46
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Abstract
We report the self-organization of universal branching patterns of oil nanodroplets under the Ouzo effect [Vitale S, Katz J (2003) Langmuir 19:4105-4110]-a phenomenon in which spontaneous droplet formation occurs upon dilution of an organic solution of oil with water. The mixing of the organic and aqueous phases is confined under a quasi-2D geometry. In a manner analogous to the ramification of ground stream networks [Devauchelle O, Petroff AP, Seybold HF, Rothman DH (2012) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 109: 20832-20836 and Cohen Y, et al. (2015) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 112:14132-14137] but on a scale 10 orders of magnitude smaller, the angles between the droplet branches are seen to exhibit remarkable universality, with a value around 74° ± 2°, independent of the various control parameters of the process. Numerical simulations reveal that these nanodroplet branching patterns are governed by the interplay between the local concentration gradient, diffusion, and collective interactions. We further demonstrate the ability of the local concentration gradient to drive autonomous motion of colloidal particles in the highly confined space, and the possibility of using the nucleated nanodroplets for nanoextraction of a hydrophobic solute. The understanding obtained from this work provides a basis for quantitatively understanding the complex dynamical aspects associated with the Ouzo effect. We expect that this will facilitate improved control in nanodroplet formation for many applications, spanning from the preparation of pharmaceutical polymeric carriers, to the formulation of cosmetics and insecticides, to the fabrication of nanostructured materials, to the concentration and separation of trace analytes in liquid-liquid microextraction.
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47
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Zhang J, Grzybowski BA, Granick S. Janus Particle Synthesis, Assembly, and Application. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:6964-6977. [PMID: 28678499 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b01123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Janus particles are colloidal particles with more than a single type of surface chemistry or composition, ranging in size from hundreds of nanometers to a few micrometers. Like traditional colloids, they are large enough to be observed under optical microscopy in real time and small enough to diffuse by Brownian motion, but their interesting and useful new properties of directional interaction bring new research opportunities to the fields of soft matter and fundamental materials research as well as to applications in other disciplines and in technologies such as electronic paper and other multiphase engineering. In this review, a variety of methods that have been used to synthesize Janus particles are introduced. Following this, we summarize the use of Janus particles as basic units that assemble into novel structures and tune important material properties. The concluding sections highlight some of the technological applications, including recent progress in using Janus particles as microprobes, micromotors, electronic paper, and solid surfactants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | | | - Steve Granick
- IBS Center for Soft and Living Matter, UNIST , Ulsan 689-798, South Korea
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Rumble KA, Stoev ID, French DJ, Abou-Hassan A, Clegg PS. Sprouting Droplets Driven by Physical Effects Alone. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:4235-4241. [PMID: 28409928 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b04514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Combining a partially miscible three-liquid system with interfacially trapped silica colloids, we show that small droplets can exhibit dramatic growth phenomena driven by physical effects alone. The mass dense droplets sprout tubes which grow vertically upward in a gravitational field and respond to the presence of other droplets in their path. Two of the liquids in our system are water and toluene. By varying the third liquid, we are able to relate the growth behavior to the details of the underlying three-fluid phase diagram and the changes to the interfacial tension. Additionally, we introduce a pendant drop in the path of our growing drop. We use this to confirm that growth is driven by the partitioning of solvents, that exchange of solvents between droplets is chemically selective, and that the exchange behavior can itself generate further growth phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Rumble
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh , Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, United Kingdom
| | - Iliya D Stoev
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh , Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, United Kingdom
| | - David J French
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh , Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, United Kingdom
| | - Ali Abou-Hassan
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06 , Laboratoire Physico-chimie des Electrolytes et Nanosystémes Interfaciaux (PHENIX), UMR 8234 CNRS, 4 Place Jussieu, Case 51, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Paul S Clegg
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh , Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, United Kingdom
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Hines L, Petersen K, Lum GZ, Sitti M. Soft Actuators for Small-Scale Robotics. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2017; 29:1603483. [PMID: 28032926 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201603483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 499] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
This review comprises a detailed survey of ongoing methodologies for soft actuators, highlighting approaches suitable for nanometer- to centimeter-scale robotic applications. Soft robots present a special design challenge in that their actuation and sensing mechanisms are often highly integrated with the robot body and overall functionality. When less than a centimeter, they belong to an even more special subcategory of robots or devices, in that they often lack on-board power, sensing, computation, and control. Soft, active materials are particularly well suited for this task, with a wide range of stimulants and a number of impressive examples, demonstrating large deformations, high motion complexities, and varied multifunctionality. Recent research includes both the development of new materials and composites, as well as novel implementations leveraging the unique properties of soft materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Hines
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstraße 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Guo Zhan Lum
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstraße 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Metin Sitti
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstraße 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems, Heisenbergstraße 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
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Torbensen K, Rossi F, Ristori S, Abou-Hassan A. Chemical communication and dynamics of droplet emulsions in networks of Belousov-Zhabotinsky micro-oscillators produced by microfluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:1179-1189. [PMID: 28239705 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc01583b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Chemical communication leading to synchronization and collective behaviour of dynamic elements, such as cell colonies, is a widespread phenomenon with biological, physical and chemical importance. Such synchronization between elements proceeds via chemical communication by emmision, interdiffusion and reception of specific messenger molecules. On a lab scale, these phenomena can be modeled by encapsulating an oscillating chemical reaction, which serves as a signal (information) sender/receiver element, inside microcompartments such as droplet emulsions, liposomes and polymersomes. Droplets can thus be regarded as single units, able to generate chemical messengers that diffuse in the environment and hence can interact with other compartments. The Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction is a well-known chemical oscillator largely used as a model for complex nonlinear phenomena, including chemical, physical and biological examples. When the BZ-reaction is encapsulated inside microcompartments, its chemical intermediates can serve as messengers by diffusing among different microcompartments, to trigger specific reactions leading to a collective behavior between the elements. The geometry and constitution of the diffusion pathways play an important role in governing the collective behaviour of the system. In this context, microfluidics is not only a versatile tool for mastering the encapsulation process of the BZ-reaction in monodisperse microcompartments, but also for creating geometries and networks with well defined boundaries. The individual compartments can be engineered with selected properties using different surfactants in the case of simple emulsions, or with specific membrane properties in the case of liposomes. Furthermore, it enables the arrangement of these microcompartments in various geometric configurations, where the diffusive coupling pathways between individual compartments are both spatially and chemically well-defined. In this tutorial paper, we review a number of articles reporting various approaches to generate networks of compartmentalized Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) chemical oscillators using microfluidics. In contrast to biological cellular networks, the dynamical characteristics of the BZ-reaction is well-known and, when confined in microcompartments arranged in different configurations with a pure interdiffusive coupling, these communicative microreactors can serve to mimic various types of bio-physical networks, aiding to comprehend the concept of chemical communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Torbensen
- UMR 8234, Laboratoire Physico-chimie des Electrolytes, Nanosystèmes InterfaciauX (PHENIX), UPMC Univ Paris 06, Sorbonne Universités, 4 place Jussieu - case 51, 75252 Paris cedex 05, France.
| | - Federico Rossi
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, Fisciano (SA), Italy
| | - Sandra Ristori
- Department of Earth Sciences & CSGI, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Ali Abou-Hassan
- UMR 8234, Laboratoire Physico-chimie des Electrolytes, Nanosystèmes InterfaciauX (PHENIX), UPMC Univ Paris 06, Sorbonne Universités, 4 place Jussieu - case 51, 75252 Paris cedex 05, France.
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