Programmed Wrapping and Assembly of Droplets with Mesoscale Polymers

Dylan M. Barber, Zhefei Yang, Lucas Prévost, Olivia du Roure, Anke Lindner, Todd Emrick, Alfred J. Crosby

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nature is remarkably adept at using interfaces to build structures, encapsulate reagents, and regulate biological processes. Inspired by nature, flexible polymer-based ribbons, termed “mesoscale polymers” (MSPs), are described to modulate interfacial interactions with liquid droplets. This produces unprecedented hybrid assemblies in the forms of flagellum-like structures and MSP-wrapped droplets. Successful preparation of these hybrid structures hinges on interfacial interactions and tailored MSP compositions, such as MSPs with domains possessing distinctly different affinity for fluid–fluid interfaces as well as mechanical properties. In situ measurements of MSP–droplet interactions confirm that MSPs possess a negligible bending stiffness, allowing interfacial energy to drive mesoscale assembly. By exploiting these interfacial driving forces, mesoscale polymers are demonstrated as a powerful platform that underpins the preparation of sophisticated hybrid structures in fluids.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2002704
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume30
Issue number36
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2020
Externally publishedYes

Funding

This project was supported by the Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Science and Engineering under award number DE-SC0008876 and a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship awarded to D.M.B. A.L., L.P., and D.M.B. acknowledge funding from the ERC Consolidator Grant PaDyFlow (Grant Agreement no. 682367). This project was supported by the Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Science and Engineering under award number DE‐SC0008876 and a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship awarded to D.M.B. A.L., L.P., and D.M.B. acknowledge funding from the ERC Consolidator Grant PaDyFlow (Grant Agreement no. 682367).

Keywords

  • bioinspired architectures
  • capillary assemblies
  • mesoscale
  • photopatterning
  • responsive materials

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