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Tunable encapsulation of sessile droplets with solid and liquid shells

Author

Listed:
  • Rutvik Lathia

    (Indian Institute of Science)

  • Satchit Nagpal

    (Indian Institute of Science)

  • Chandantaru Dey Modak

    (Indian Institute of Science)

  • Satyarthi Mishra

    (Indian Institute of Science)

  • Deepak Sharma

    (Indian Institute of Science)

  • Bheema Sankar Reddy

    (Indian Institute of Science)

  • Pavan Nukala

    (Indian Institute of Science)

  • Ramray Bhat

    (Indian Institute of Science
    Indian Institute of Science)

  • Prosenjit Sen

    (Indian Institute of Science
    Indian Institute of Science)

Abstract

Droplet encapsulations using liquid or solid shells are of significant interest in microreactors, drug delivery, crystallization, and cell growth applications. Despite progress in droplet-related technologies, tuning micron-scale shell thickness over a large range of droplet sizes is still a major challenge. In this work, we report capillary force assisted cloaking using hydrophobic colloidal particles and liquid-infused surfaces. The technique produces uniform solid and liquid shell encapsulations over a broad range (5–200 μm shell thickness for droplet volume spanning over four orders of magnitude). Tunable liquid encapsulation is shown to reduce the evaporation rate of droplets by up to 200 times with a wide tunability in lifetime (1.5 h to 12 days). Further, we propose using the technique for single crystals and cell/spheroid culture platforms. Stimuli-responsive solid shells show hermetic encapsulation with tunable strength and dissolution time. Moreover, scalability, and versatility of the technique is demonstrated for on-chip applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Rutvik Lathia & Satchit Nagpal & Chandantaru Dey Modak & Satyarthi Mishra & Deepak Sharma & Bheema Sankar Reddy & Pavan Nukala & Ramray Bhat & Prosenjit Sen, 2023. "Tunable encapsulation of sessile droplets with solid and liquid shells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-41977-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41977-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Adrian M. Nightingale & Chi Leng Leong & Rachel A. Burnish & Sammer-ul Hassan & Yu Zhang & Geraldine F. Clough & Martyn G. Boutelle & David Voegeli & Xize Niu, 2019. "Monitoring biomolecule concentrations in tissue using a wearable droplet microfluidic-based sensor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Chandantaru Dey Modak & Arvind Kumar & Abinash Tripathy & Prosenjit Sen, 2020. "Drop impact printing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. A. Lee & P. -T. Brun & J. Marthelot & G. Balestra & F. Gallaire & P. M. Reis, 2016. "Fabrication of slender elastic shells by the coating of curved surfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, September.
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