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

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 l

SUBMITTER: Frank BD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9091213 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature