Towards Functional Droplet Architectures: a Belousov-Zhabotinsky Medium for Networks.

ABSTRACT: The confluence of droplet-compartmentalised chemical systems and architectures composed of interacting droplets points towards a novel technology mimicking core features of the cellular architecture that dominates biology. A key challenge to achieve such a droplet technology is long-term stability in conjunction with interdroplet communication. Here, we probed the parameter space of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) medium, an extensively studied model for non-equilibrium chemical reactions, pipetted as 2.5 mm droplets in hexadecane oil. The presence of asolectin lipids enabled the formation of arrays of contacted BZ droplets, of which the wave patterns were characterised over time. We utilised laser-cut acrylic templates with over 40 linear oil-filled slots in which arrays are formed by pipet

SUBMITTER: Chang KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6107623 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature