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Reversible morphology-resolved chemotactic actuation and motion of Janus emulsion droplets

Author

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  • Bradley D. Frank

    (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces)

  • Saveh Djalali

    (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces)

  • Agata W. Baryzewska

    (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces)

  • Paolo Giusto

    (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces)

  • Peter H. Seeberger

    (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces)

  • Lukas Zeininger

    (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Bradley D. Frank & Saveh Djalali & Agata W. Baryzewska & Paolo Giusto & Peter H. Seeberger & Lukas Zeininger, 2022. "Reversible morphology-resolved chemotactic actuation and motion of Janus emulsion droplets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30229-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30229-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ali J. Mazaltarim & John J. Bowen & Jay M. Taylor & Stephen A. Morin, 2021. "Dynamic manipulation of droplets using mechanically tunable microtextured chemical gradients," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Lauren D. Zarzar & Vishnu Sresht & Ellen M. Sletten & Julia A. Kalow & Daniel Blankschtein & Timothy M. Swager, 2015. "Dynamically reconfigurable complex emulsions via tunable interfacial tensions," Nature, Nature, vol. 518(7540), pages 520-524, February.
    3. Allan M. Brooks & Mykola Tasinkevych & Syeda Sabrina & Darrell Velegol & Ayusman Sen & Kyle J. M. Bishop, 2019. "Shape-directed rotation of homogeneous micromotors via catalytic self-electrophoresis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
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