1
|
Liu H, Peng C, Guo S, Liu X, Li X. Rod-Shaped Liquid Plasticine as Cuttable Minireactor for Photodynamic Therapy of Tumors. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2309535. [PMID: 38193268 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202309535] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising non-invasive approach for cancer treatment. Enhancing its efficacy and understanding its absorption-induced attenuation are significant while the solutions are limited, particularly for the latter. In this study, a rod-shaped liquid plasticine (LP), comprised of a tumor cell solution encased by a nanoparticle monolayer, is used to serve as a powerful minireactor for addressing these issues. The channel structure, openness, and cuttability of the LP reactor are exploited for providing benefits to PDT. The resulting PDT efficacy is several times higher than those from droplet reactors with common spherical shapes. The attenuation law, which is fundamental in PDT yet poorly understood due to the lack of experimental approaches, is preliminarily uncovered here from the perspective of in vitro experiments by using the LP's cuttability, affording quantitative understanding on this difficult subject. These findings provide insights into the widely-concerned topics in PDT, and highlight the great potential of an LP reactor in offering innovation power for the biochemical and biomedical arenas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heng Liu
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, China
| | - Chenxi Peng
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering (IBME), Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, China
| | - Shuaichen Guo
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, China
| | - Xiaowang Liu
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering (IBME), Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, China
| | - Xiaoguang Li
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tenjimbayashi M, Mouterde T, Roy PK, Uto K. Liquid marbles: review of recent progress in physical properties, formation techniques, and lab-in-a-marble applications in microreactors and biosensors. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:18980-18998. [PMID: 37990550 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr04966c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Liquid marbles (LMs) are nonsticking droplets whose surfaces are covered with low-wettability particles. Owing to their high mobility, shape reconfigurability, and widely accessible liquid/particle possibilities, the research on LMs has flourished since 2001. Their physical properties, fabrication mechanisms, and functionalisation capabilities indicate their potential for various applications. This review summarises the fundamental properties of LMs, the recent advances (mainly works published in 2020-2023) in the concept of LMs, physical properties, formation methods, LM-templated material design, and biochemical applications. Finally, the potential development and variations of LMs are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mizuki Tenjimbayashi
- Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan.
| | - Timothée Mouterde
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
| | - Pritam Kumar Roy
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
| | - Koichiro Uto
- Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, NIMS, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fernández-Montoro A, Angel-Velez D, Benedetti C, Azari-Dolatabad N, Pascottini OB, Van Soom A, Pavani KC. Alternative Culture Systems for Bovine Oocyte In Vitro Maturation: Liquid Marbles and Differentially Shaped 96-Well Plates. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13101635. [PMID: 37238065 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101635] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In vivo-matured oocytes exhibit higher developmental competence than those matured in vitro but mimicking the in vivo environment by in vitro conditions has been challenging. Until now, conventional two-dimensional (2D) systems have been used for in vitro maturation of bovine cumulus-oocytes-complexes (COCs). However, using such systems present certain limitations. Therefore, alternative low-cost methodologies may help to optimize oocyte in vitro maturation. Here, we used two different systems to culture COCs and evaluate their potential influence on embryo development and quality. In the first system, we used treated fumed silica particles to create a 3D microenvironment (liquid marbles; LM) to mature COCs. In the second system, we cultured COCs in 96-well plates with different dimensions (flat, ultra-low attachment round-bottom, and v-shaped 96-well plates). In both systems, the nuclear maturation rate remained similar to the control in 2D, showing that most oocytes reached metaphase II. However, the subsequent blastocyst rate remained lower in the liquid marble system compared with the 96-well plates and control 2D systems. Interestingly, a lower total cell number was found in the resulting embryos from both systems (LM and 96-well plates) compared with the control. In conclusion, oocytes matured in liquid marbles or 96-well plates showed no remarkable change in terms of meiotic resumption. None of the surface geometries influenced embryo development while oocyte maturation in liquid marbles led to reduced embryo development. These findings show that different geometry during maturation did not have a large impact on oocyte and embryo development. Lower embryo production after in vitro maturation in liquid marbles was probably detected because in vitro maturation was performed in serum-free medium, which makes oocytes more sensitive to possible toxic effects from the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Fernández-Montoro
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Daniel Angel-Velez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
- Research Group in Animal Sciences-INCA-CES, Universidad CES, Medellin 050021, Colombia
| | - Camilla Benedetti
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Nima Azari-Dolatabad
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Osvaldo Bogado Pascottini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ann Van Soom
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Krishna Chaitanya Pavani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li N, Wanyan H, Lu S, Xiao H, Zhang M, Liu K, Li X, Du B, Huang L, Chen L, Ni Y, Wu H. Robust cellulose-based hydrogel marbles with excellent stability for gas sensing. Carbohydr Polym 2023; 306:120617. [PMID: 36746574 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.120617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Liquid marbles, as particle-armored droplets, have potential applications in microreactors, biomedicine, controlled release and gas detection. To improve the stability and biocompatibility of marble, biocompatible cellulose acetate particles and 3-allyloxy-2-hydroxy-propyl-cellulose (AHP-cellulose) were used to fabricate robust cellulose-based liquid marbles with excellent stability. Liquid marble was gelled into hydrogel marble via blue-light-irradiated polymerization of AHP-cellulose. The mechanical properties of cellulose-based hydrogel marble are superior to those of liquid marble. The rupture height of liquid marble is 10.5 m, which is 420 times greater than that of water marble (0.025 m). Surprisingly, the hydrogel marble with a 3 % AHP-cellulose concentration remained intact even after being dropped from a height of 50 m, which is comparable with the ability of a leather ball to withstand larger impact. When released from a height of 60 mm, hydrogel marble bounced to approximately 25.5 mm, 881 % higher than liquid marble (2.6 mm). Hydrogel marble exhibited long-lasting stability and was capable of monitoring ammonia with a detection limit of 365.2 mg/m3. The biocompatible cellulose-based hydrogel marble with excellent mechanical stability and reusability detection has great potential in chemical and environmental engineering as gas sensors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- College of Material Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China
| | - Hongying Wanyan
- College of Material Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China
| | - Shengchang Lu
- College of Material Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China; School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China.
| | - He Xiao
- College of Material Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China; National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China
| | - Min Zhang
- College of Material Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China; National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China.
| | - Kai Liu
- College of Material Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China; National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China
| | - Xiuliang Li
- Yuzhong (Fujian) New Material Technology Co., Ltd, Quanzhou, Fujian 362141, PR China
| | - Bihui Du
- College of Material Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China; Yuzhong (Fujian) New Material Technology Co., Ltd, Quanzhou, Fujian 362141, PR China
| | - Liulian Huang
- College of Material Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China; National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China
| | - Lihui Chen
- College of Material Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China; National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China
| | - Yonghao Ni
- College of Material Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China; Limerick Pulp and Paper Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton NBE3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Hui Wu
- College of Material Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China; National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Plant Fiber Functional Materials, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tsumura Y, Fameau AL, Matsui K, Hirai T, Nakamura Y, Fujii S. Photo- and Thermoresponsive Liquid Marbles Based on Fatty Acid as Phase Change Material Coated by Polypyrrole: From Design to Applications. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:878-889. [PMID: 36602465 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Responsive liquid marbles (LMs), which can change their shape, stability, and motion by the application of stimuli, attract a growing interest due to their wide range of applications. Our approach to design photo- and thermoresponsive LMs is based on the use of micrometer-sized fatty acid (FA) particles as phase change material covered with polypyrrole (PPy) overlayers with photothermal property. The core-shell particles were synthesized by aqueous chemical oxidative seeded dispersion polymerization. First, we investigated the effect of the alkyl chain length of FA on the resulting FA/PPy core-shell particles by characterizing their size and its distribution, shape, morphology, chemical composition, and photothermal behavior. Then LMs were fabricated by rolling water droplets on the dried FA/PPy particle powder bed and their light and temperature dual stimuli-responsive nature was studied as a function of the FA alkyl chain length. For all FAs studied, LMs disrupted in a domino manner by light irradiation as the first trigger: the temperature of the FA/PPy particles on the LM surface increased by light irradiation, followed by phase change of FA core of the particles from solid to liquid, resulting in disruption of the LM and release of the encapsulated water. The disruption time was closely correlated to the melting point of FA linked to the alkyl chain length and light irradiation power, and it could be controlled and tuned easily between quasi instantaneous and approximately 10 s. Finally, we showed potential applications of the LMs as a carrier for controlled delivery and release of substances and a sensor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Tsumura
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Environmental and Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| | - Anne-Laure Fameau
- Université Lille, CNRS, INRAE, Centrale Lille, UMR 8207 - UMET - Unité Matériaux et Transformations, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Kanade Matsui
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Environmental and Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| | - Tomoyasu Hirai
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
- Nanomaterials Microdevices Research Center, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Nakamura
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
- Nanomaterials Microdevices Research Center, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| | - Syuji Fujii
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
- Nanomaterials Microdevices Research Center, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ferronato GDA, Dos Santos CM, Rosa PMDS, Bridi A, Perecin F, Meirelles FV, Sangalli JR, da Silveira JC. Bovine in vitro oocyte maturation and embryo culture in liquid marbles 3D culture system. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284809. [PMID: 37083878 PMCID: PMC10121032 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the advances in in vitro embryo production (IVP) over the years, the technique still has limitations that need to be overcome. In cell cultures, it is already well established that three-dimensional culture techniques are more physiological and similar to the in vivo development. Liquid marble (LM) is a three-dimensional system based on the use of a hydrophobic substance to create in vitro microbioreactors. Thus, we hypothesized that the LM system improves bovine in vitro oocyte maturation and embryo culture. In experiment I, bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were placed for in vitro maturation for 22h in two different groups: control (conventional 2D culture) and LM (three-dimensional culture). We found that oocyte nuclear maturation was not altered by the LM system, however it was observed a decrease in expression of genes important in the oocyte maturation process in cumulus cells of LM group (BCL2, EIF4E, and GAPDH). In experiment II, the COCs were conventionally matured and fertilized, and for culture, they were divided into LM or control groups. There was a decrease in blastocyst rate and cell counting, a down-regulation of miR-615 expression, and an increase in the DNA global methylation and hydroxymethylation in embryos of LM group. Therefore, for the bovine in vitro embryo production, this specific three-dimensional system did not present the advantages that we expected, but demonstrated that the embryos changed their development and epigenetics according to the culture system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuliana de Avila Ferronato
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - Carolina Mônica Dos Santos
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - Paola Maria da S Rosa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Bridi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe Perecin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - Flávio Vieira Meirelles
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliano Rodrigues Sangalli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliano Coelho da Silveira
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Tsumura Y, Oyama K, Fameau AL, Seike M, Ohtaka A, Hirai T, Nakamura Y, Fujii S. Photo/Thermo Dual Stimulus-Responsive Liquid Marbles Stabilized with Polypyrrole-Coated Stearic Acid Particles. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:41618-41628. [PMID: 36043393 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c12681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we report on the fabrication of photo/thermo dual stimulus-responsive liquid marbles (LMs) that can be disrupted by light irradiation and/or heating. To stabilize the LMs, we synthesized micrometer-sized stearic acid (SA) particles coated with overlayers of polypyrrole (PPy) by aqueous chemical oxidative seeded dispersion polymerization. The SA/PPy core-shell particles could adsorb at the air-water interface to stabilize LMs by rolling water droplets on the particle powder bed. The presence of SA, known as a phase-change material, which undergoes a transition from solid to liquid by heating, and PPy, which can transduce light to heat, gives rise to the photo and thermo dual stimulus-responsive characters of the LMs. The disruption of the LMs could be induced in a cascade manner: light irradiation on the LM induced a temperature increase, followed by melting of the SA component on the LM surface, leading to its disruption and release of the inner water. The disruption time is linked to the PPy loading and light irradiation power, and it can be tuned from quasi-instantaneous to a few tens of seconds. The melting of SA due to a light-induced phase change from the solid to liquid state is a new mechanism to trigger the disruption of LMs. We finally demonstrated two applications of the LMs as a light-responsive microreactor and a sensor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Tsumura
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Environmental and Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| | - Keigo Oyama
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Environmental and Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| | - Anne-Laure Fameau
- Université Lille, CNRS, INRAE, Centrale Lille, UMR 8207─UMET─Unité Matériaux et Transformations, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Musashi Seike
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Environmental and Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| | - Atsushi Ohtaka
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| | - Tomoyasu Hirai
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
- Nanomaterials Microdevices Research Center, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Nakamura
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
- Nanomaterials Microdevices Research Center, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| | - Syuji Fujii
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
- Nanomaterials Microdevices Research Center, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Pang X, Duan M, Liu H, Xi Y, Shi H, Li X. Oscillation-Induced Mixing Advances the Functionality of Liquid Marble Microreactors. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:11999-12009. [PMID: 35171580 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c22314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Droplet-based microreactors often uncover fascinating phenomena and exhibit diverse functionality, which make them applicable in various fields. Liquid marbles (LMs) are non-wetting droplets coated with particles, and these features highlight their potential as microreactors. However, sophisticated experimental designs are typically hindered because it is difficult to obtain sufficient substance mixing in these miniature, damage-prone, self-supporting liquid containers. Here, we demonstrate that subjecting LMs to vertical oscillations by audio signals represents a controllable approach that allows sufficient mixing with variable dynamic modes. The characteristics and key issues in LM oscillation are systematically explored. The effects of oscillation on application potential are examined. Under oscillation conditions, homogeneous mixing can be achieved within a few seconds in LMs consisting of either water or viscous liquids. Importantly, the structures of materials synthesized in LMs can be regulated by modulating the oscillation modes. The variable modes, flexible adjustability, high efficiency, and wide applicability of this oscillation method make it a verified manipulation strategy for advancing the functionality of LM microreactors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xianglong Pang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710129, China
| | - Mei Duan
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710129, China
| | - Heng Liu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710129, China
| | - Yuhang Xi
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710129, China
| | - Haixiao Shi
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710129, China
| | - Xiaoguang Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710129, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Elnaz Poorreza, Habib Badri Ghavifekr. Experimental and Simulation Investigations of Magnetic Liquid Marble Manipulation with a Permanent Magnet. COLLOID JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1061933x21060090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
10
|
Wang D, Li S, Wang B, Guo Z, Liu W. Fabrication of bioinspired edible liquid marble with phase transition and tunable water barrier property. Biodes Manuf 2021; 4:889-901. [PMID: 34377577 PMCID: PMC8336672 DOI: 10.1007/s42242-021-00158-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Based on aphid wax-honeydew marble and the hydrophobic wax structure of lotus and its derived applications with superareophilic and superhydrophobic properties, edible carnauba wax and beeswax particles were mixed and utilized to mimic lotus wax and wrap liquid, thus forming liquid marbles (LMs). Through the utilization of continuous production system (CPS), wax as an interfacial surfactant, water and solid, air-phase or mixed-phase marble content was produced. The edible liquid marble (ELM) could encapsulate water and food droplets. Edible solid marble (ESM) and edible solid hollow marbles (ESHMs) could be fabricated by applying pectin or syrup. Moreover, through the heating of wax powders with different melting temperatures, stable tablets and hollow capsules could be produced. The wax powder as interfacial surfactant could firmly bind with pectin through hydrogen bonds on ESM. The edible LMs can therefore be applied for residue reduction, corrosion reduction, biohazard prevention and cleaning in the food industry. The other phase LMs could act as novel tools in the pharmaceutical and food industries with the above-mentioned water transport, preservation, sustained releasing and selective releasing abilities. GRAPHIC ABSTRACT SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42242-021-00158-z.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039 China
| | - Shanpeng Li
- College of Engineering, Lishui University, Lishui, 323000 China
| | - Ben Wang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060 China
| | - Zhiguang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000 China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Weimin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000 China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kumar Roy P, Legchenkova I, Shoval S, Dombrovsky LA, Bormashenko E. Osmotic evolution of composite liquid marbles. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 592:167-173. [PMID: 33662822 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.02.055] [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: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS We hypothesized that the reported evolution (growth) of composite water marbles filled with saline water and coated with lycopodium dispersed in a thin layer of silicone oil is due to the osmotic mass transfer. The hypothesis is supported by the semi-empirical model of osmotic growth of small liquid marbles floating on distilled water. EXPERIMENTS Saline composite, silicone oil-coated marbles floating on distilled water grew with time; whereas, composite marbles filled with distilled water floating on aqueous solutions of NaCl lost mass with time and shrunk. However, composite liquid marbles filled with saline water and floating on aqueous solutions of NaCl remained stable during 25 h of the laboratory experiment. FINDINGS The reported findings are reasonably attributed to osmotic mass transport through the thin silicon layer filled with lycopodium particles coating the marbles, acting as an osmotic membrane. This is supported by the suggested model for the osmotic growth of marbles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pritam Kumar Roy
- Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Ariel University, P.O.B. 3, 407000 Ariel, Israel
| | - Irina Legchenkova
- Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Ariel University, P.O.B. 3, 407000 Ariel, Israel
| | - Shraga Shoval
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Faculty of Engineering, Ariel University, P.O.B. 3, 407000 Ariel, Israel
| | - Leonid A Dombrovsky
- X-BIO Institute, University of Tyumen, 6 Volodarskogo St, Tyumen 625003, Russia; Heat Transfer Department, Joint Institute for High Temperatures, 17A Krasnokazarmennaya St, Moscow 111116, Russia
| | - Edward Bormashenko
- Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Ariel University, P.O.B. 3, 407000 Ariel, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kim Y, Oh S, Lee H, Lee D, Kim M, Baek HS, Park WS, Kim E, Jang JH. Chitosan-Alginate-Pectin-coated Suspended-Liquid-Encapsulating (CAPSuLE) marbles for therapeutic agent storage and delivery. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:1639-1651. [PMID: 33432951 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm01504k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Developing a cutting-edge system capable of ensuring long-lasting functionality of therapeutic agents and implementing diverse delivery modes is challenging. A quasi-spherical triple-layered capsule containing suspended liquid droplets and allowing multi-modal delivery of therapeutic agents in the aqueous phase was developed, primarily by adopting the core principles for creating liquid marbles. A naturally derived wettable polysaccharide-pectin-was utilized as a liquid-air interfacial barrier to keep the liquid droplets in the core zone. To tailor the pectin-coated droplet as a therapeutic agent carrier, anionic alginate and cationic chitosan layers were sequentially formed via additional interactions: physically stacking substances with structural chirality (pectin-alginate) and inducing electrostatic association to create the reversible complex coacervates (alginate-chitosan). The resulting system, which is called a Chitosan-Alginate-Pectin-coated Suspended-Liquid-Encapsulating (CAPSuLE) marble, had sufficient mechanical strength to resist external harsh environments and exhibited unique features: ecofriendly sustainability, responsiveness to external stimuli, coacervate-driven coalescence for linking adjacent marbles, and a self-repairing ability. The proposed CAPSuLE system can facilitate the adoption of the liquid-marble concept to biomedical fields, extending its applicability in the fields of biology and applied engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoojin Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
| | - Seokmin Oh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
| | - Heehyung Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
| | - Dongsoo Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
| | - Mihyun Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
| | - Heung Soo Baek
- Amorepacific Research and Development Center, Yongin, 17074, Korea.
| | - Won Seok Park
- Amorepacific Research and Development Center, Yongin, 17074, Korea.
| | - Eunmi Kim
- Amorepacific Research and Development Center, Yongin, 17074, Korea.
| | - Jae-Hyung Jang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Li H, Liu P, Gunawan R, Simeneh ZM, Liang C, Yao X, Yang M. Magnetothermal Miniature Reactors Based on Fe 3 O 4 Nanocube-Coated Liquid Marbles. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2001658. [PMID: 33470539 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Liquid marbles have recently attracted much interest in various scientific fields because of their isolated environment and robustness. However, conventional liquid marbles lack a reliable heating mechanism, which is critical in many potential applications. Here, the development of iron oxide (Fe3 O4 ) nanocube-coated liquid marbles (iNLMs), which can be homogeneously heated with an alternating magnetic field (AMF) to as high as 86 °C, is reported. Through tuning the power of the AMF, the iNLMs canbe heated to desired temperatures in controllable patterns. Furthermore, multicenter and selective heating is realized based on the unique magnetothermal properties of iNLMs. As heatable miniature reactors, the iNLMs are further demonstrated to facilitate the kinetic study of temperature-dependent chemical reactions. DNA amplification is successfully performed in liquid marbles, achieving a 25% superior amplification rate compared with that in a common thermal cycler. These results confirm the feasibility of coating liquid marbles with Fe3 O4 nanocubes to form delicate magnetothermal miniature reactors, which provides a reliable method of applying liquid marbles in areas such as biosensor technology, point-of-care testing, and theranostics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hualin Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotechnology and Health Centre, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, P. R. China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotechnology and Health Centre, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, P. R. China
| | - Renardi Gunawan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotechnology and Health Centre, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, P. R. China
| | - Zemenu Mengistie Simeneh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotechnology and Health Centre, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, P. R. China
| | - Chen Liang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotechnology and Health Centre, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, P. R. China
| | - Xi Yao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotechnology and Health Centre, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, P. R. China
| | - Mengsu Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotechnology and Health Centre, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ji X, Wang X, Zhang Y, Zang D. Interfacial viscoelasticity and jamming of colloidal particles at fluid-fluid interfaces: a review. REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS. PHYSICAL SOCIETY (GREAT BRITAIN) 2020; 83:126601. [PMID: 32998118 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6633/abbcd8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Colloidal particles can be adsorbed at fluid-fluid interfaces, a phenomenon frequently observed in particle-stabilized foams, Pickering emulsions, and bijels. Particles adsorbed at interfaces exhibit unique physical and chemical behaviors, which affect the mechanical properties of the interface. Therefore, interfacial colloidal particles are of interest in terms of both fundamental and applied research. In this paper, we review studies on the adsorption of colloidal particles at fluid-fluid interfaces, from both thermodynamic and mechanical points of view, and discuss the differences as compared with surfactants and polymers. The unique particle interactions induced by the interfaces as well as the particle dynamics including lateral diffusion and contact line relaxation will be presented. We focus on the rearrangement of the particles and the resultant interfacial viscoelasticity. Particular emphasis will be given to the effects of particle shape, size, and surface hydrophobicity on the interfacial particle assembly and the mechanical properties of the obtained particle layer. We will also summarize recent advances in interfacial jamming behavior caused by adsorption of particles at interfaces. The buckling and cracking behavior of particle layers will be discussed from a mechanical perspective. Finally, we suggest several potential directions for future research in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoliang Ji
- Soft Matter & Complex Fluids Group, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolu Wang
- Institute of Welding and Surface Engineering Technology, Faculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongjian Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Surface Engineering and Remanufacturing, Xi'an University, Xi'an 710065, People's Republic of China
| | - Duyang Zang
- Soft Matter & Complex Fluids Group, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abstract
The need for miniaturised reaction systems has led to the development of various microreactor platforms, such as droplet-based microreactors. However, these microreactors possess inherent drawbacks, such as rapid evaporation and difficult handling, that limit their use in practical applications. Liquid marbles are droplets covered with hydrophobic particles and are a potential platform that can overcome the weaknesses of bare droplets. The coating particles completely isolate the interior liquids from the surrounding environment, thus conveniently encapsulating the reactions. Great efforts have been made over the past decade to demonstrate the feasibility of liquid marble-based microreactors for chemical and biological applications. This review systemically summarises state-of-the-art implementations of liquid marbles as microreactors. This paper also discusses the various aspects of liquid marble-based microreactors, such as the formation, manipulation, and future perspectives.
Collapse
|
16
|
Huang J, Wang Z, Shi H, Li X. Mechanical robustness of monolayer nanoparticle-covered liquid marbles. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:4632-4639. [PMID: 32373907 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00496k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Powder-derived liquid marbles (LMs) are versatile nonwetting systems but are confronted with many limitations in application, as their surface particles are usually large and agglomerated. Recently, sol-gel film-derived LMs have come on the scene that are termed monolayer nanoparticle-covered (mNPc) LMs based on their unique characteristics, revealing great application potential but also generating many questions. Here, mechanical robustness, a very important yet to be addressed property, of mNPc LMs was systematically studied. Rolling, pendant contact, and compression experiments were designed using bare and coated glasses with water contact angles (WCAs) ranging from 23° to 157°. With rupture as a quality criteria, the mechanical robustness of mNPc LMs enhanced with the hydrophobicity of solid surfaces that exerted pressure on them, but maintained much weaker than typical powder LMs until the solid surface was superhydrophobic. In particular, when contacting hydrophilic surfaces of WCAs ≤53°, an mNPc LM did not have the capacity for nonwetting and ruptured immediately, even if the pressure approached zero. This was distinct from powder LMs and indicated that a particle shell as thin as ∼20 nm could not prevent intermolecular attractions between the internal liquid and external solid surface. An interface scenario consisting of solid surface microroughness was proposed to address this issue. On the other hand, mNPc LMs remained unruptured on superhydrophobic surfaces but presented degraded elasticity under extreme compression. Uncovering these properties could be of much help for developments of mNPc LMs and their counterparts, the mNPc liquid plasticines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junchao Huang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Condensed Matter Structures and Properties, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, China.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Li X, Shi H, Wang Y, Wang H, Huang J, Duan M. Liquid marbles from soot films. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:4512-4519. [PMID: 32352107 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm02199j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Soot films are the most easily available superhydrophobic surfaces. However, their cohesive forces are very weak such that they have been considered not suitable for direct use. Here we show that the seemingly undesirable mechanical weakness is actually an important property which allows a soot film to work as a superhydrophobic platform and tool, producing liquid marbles with fascinating properties and performances. A soot film is weak enough to lose component carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) on contact with water, but can adhere to a substrate stably on overturning or shaking the substrate. On this basis, we demonstrate that a liquid marble consisting of a liquid core and a CNP shell can be obtained by either rolling or an imprinting process. In addition, it is found that large-volume liquid puddles are easy to produce and manipulate with soot films by arbitrary shaking and pouring operations, without worrying about particles flying off that would occur in conventional powder-based liquid puddle production. The multifunctionality of CNPs endows soot liquid marbles/puddles with great potential in light shielding, electrical conduction, etc. This study reveals a direct application of soot films' superhydrophobicity, provides an alternative route for liquid marble production, and highlights the concept of disadvantage reversion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoguang Li
- School of Physics Science and Technology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Condensed Matter Structures and Properties, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710129, China.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
|
19
|
Sreejith KR, Gorgannezhad L, Jin J, Ooi CH, Stratton H, Dao DV, Nguyen NT. Liquid marbles as biochemical reactors for the polymerase chain reaction. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:3220-3227. [PMID: 31464317 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00676a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a popular and well-established DNA amplification technique. Technological and engineering advancements in the field of microfluidics have fuelled the progress of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology in the last three decades. Advances in microfluidics-based PCR technology have significantly reduced the sample volume and thermal cycling time. Further advances led to novel and accurate techniques such as the digital PCR. However, contamination of PCR samples, lack of reusability of the microfluidic PCR platforms, complexity in instrumentation and operation remain as some of the significant drawbacks of conventional microfluidic PCR platforms. Liquid marbles, the recently emerging microfluidic platform, could potentially resolve these drawbacks. This paper reports the first liquid marble based polymerase chain reaction. We demonstrated an experimental setup for the liquid-marble based PCR with a humidity-controlled chamber and an embedded thermal cycler. A concentrated salt solution was used to control the humidity of the PCR chamber which in turn reduces the evaporation rate of the liquid marble. The successful PCR of microbial source tracking markers for faecal contamination was achieved with the system, indicating potential application in water quality monitoring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kamalalayam Rajan Sreejith
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia.
| | - Lena Gorgannezhad
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia. and School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia
| | - Jing Jin
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia.
| | - Chin Hong Ooi
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia.
| | - Helen Stratton
- School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia
| | - Dzung Viet Dao
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia.
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Liquid marbles and liquid plasticines with nanoparticle monolayers. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2019; 271:101988. [PMID: 31330397 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2019.101988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Liquid marbles, as particle-covered macroscopic liquid drops in an air environment, have exhibited great value as self-standing liquid containers in various areas, such as material synthesis, chemical analysis, and cell culture. However, conventional liquid marbles obtained by the rolling-on-powder-bed method usually feature micron-sized or larger particle agglomerates, which harm marble transparency and fine control of marble shape and thus results in considerable limitations for marble applications. Recently, monolayer nanoparticle (NP) coverage has been achieved using a sol-gel film instead of a powder as the particle source. The NP monolayer structure can not only result in highly transparent liquid marbles with very smooth and symmetrical profiles, but can also lead to liquid entities with arbitrarily designable shapes, as called liquid plasticines. Monolayer NP-covered (mNPc) liquid marbles and plasticines have generated important results in both fundamental and practical applications, as ideal physical models or advanced self-standing containers, showing great advantages in some conditions over conventional powder-derived liquid marbles. In this review, the preparations and current applications of the two mNPc systems are summarized and perspectives on their advantages, unclear issues, and application extension are provided.
Collapse
|
21
|
Wang B, Chan KF, Ji F, Wang Q, Chiu PWY, Guo Z, Zhang L. On-Demand Coalescence and Splitting of Liquid Marbles and Their Bioapplications. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2019; 6:1802033. [PMID: 31131188 PMCID: PMC6523389 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201802033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Coalescence and splitting of liquid marbles (LMs) are critical for the mixture of precise amount precursors and removal of the wastes in the microliter range. Here, the coalescence and splitting of LMs are realized by a simple gravity-driven impact method and the two processes are systematically investigated to obtain the optimal parameters. The formation, coalescence, and splitting of LMs can be realized on-demand with a designed channel box. By selecting the functional channels on the device, gravity-based fusion and splitting of LMs are performed to mix medium/drugs and remove spent culture medium in a precise manner, thus ensuring that the microenvironment of the cells is maintained under optimal conditions. The LM-based 3D stem cell spheroids are demonstrated to possess an approximately threefold of cell viability compared with the conventional spheroid obtained from nonadhesive plates. Delivery of the cell spheroid to a hydrophilic surface results in the in situ respreading of cells and gradual formation of typical 2D cell morphology, which offers the possibility for such spheroid-based stem cell delivery in regenerative medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ben Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation EngineeringThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Kai Fung Chan
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative MedicineThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Fengtong Ji
- Department of Mechanical and Automation EngineeringThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Qianqian Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation EngineeringThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Philip Wai Yan Chiu
- Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative MedicineThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- Department of SurgeryThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Zhiguang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Solid LubricationLanzhou Institute of Chemical PhysicsChinese Academy of ScienceLanzhou730000China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Centre for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional MaterialsHubei UniversityWuhan430062China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation EngineeringThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative MedicineThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- T Stone Robotics InstituteThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Sreejith KR, Ooi CH, Jin J, Dao DV, Nguyen NT. An automated on-demand liquid marble generator based on electrohydrodynamic pulling. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2019; 90:055102. [PMID: 31153224 DOI: 10.1063/1.5094522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Liquid marble is a recently emerging digital microfluidic platform with a wide range of applications. Conventional liquid marbles are synthesized by coating liquid droplets with a thin layer of hydrophobic powder. Existing and emerging applications of liquid marbles require a contamination-free synthesis of liquid marbles with a high degree of reproducibility of their volume. Despite this requirement, the synthesis of liquid marbles has been still carried out manually. Manual production of liquid marbles leads to inconsistent volume and the possibility of contamination. The synthesis of liquid marbles with submicroliter volume is difficult to achieve and prone to large errors. This paper discusses the design and development of the first automated on-demand liquid marble generator with submicroliter capability. The device utilizes electrohydrodynamic pulling of liquid droplets on to a hydrophobic powder bed and subsequently coats them with the hydrophobic powder to synthesize liquid marbles of a desired volume.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kamalalayam Rajan Sreejith
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia
| | - Chin Hong Ooi
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia
| | - Jing Jin
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia
| | - Dzung Viet Dao
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, 4111 Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|