Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Tunable spatial heterogeneity in structure and composition within aqueous microfluidic droplets.


ABSTRACT: In this paper, we demonstrate biphasic microfluidic droplets with broadly tunable internal structures, from simple near-equilibrium drop-in-drop morphologies to complex yet uniform non-equilibrium steady-state structures. The droplets contain an aqueous mixture of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and dextran and are dispensed into an immiscible oil in a microfluidic T-junction device. Above a certain well-defined threshold droplet speed, the inner dextran-rich phase is "stirred" within the outer PEG-rich phase. The stirred polymer mixture is observed to exhibit a near continuum of speed and composition-dependent phase morphologies. There is increasing interest in the use of such aqueous two-phase systems in microfluidic devices for biomolecular applications in a variety of contexts. Our work presents a method to go beyond equilibrium phase morphologies in generating microfluidic "multiple" emulsions and at the same time raises the possibility of biochemical experimentation in benign yet complex biomimetic milieus.

SUBMITTER: Hui Sophia Lee S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3360713 | biostudies-other | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC7144161 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2692466 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3443641 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5999407 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3309109 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7186861 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7782531 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6763379 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7124936 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3604044 | biostudies-literature