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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

A Microfluidic System with Surface Patterning for Investigating Cavitation Bubble(s)–Cell Interaction and the Resultant Bioeffects at the Single-cell Level

A Microfluidic System with Surface Patterning for Investigating Cavitation Bubble(s)–Cell Interaction and the Resultant Bioeffects at the Single-cell Level

Published on: January 10, 2017

Interfacial polygonal nanopatterning of stable microbubbles.

Emilie Dressaire¹, Rodney Bee, David C Bell

¹School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|May 31, 2008

Summary

Stable microbubbles are now achievable. Researchers created tiny, long-lasting bubbles using self-assembled surfactant layers, extending their lifespan to over a year for advanced applications.

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Area of Science:

Colloid and surface science
Materials science
Physical chemistry

Background:

Micrometer-sized bubbles are inherently unstable, limiting their practical applications.
Amphiphilic molecules can temporarily stabilize bubbles by reducing dissolution.
Crystallization of surfactants at the air/liquid interface can extend bubble lifetime to months.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a method for fabricating highly stable microbubble dispersions.
To investigate the mechanisms behind microbubble stabilization.
To achieve microbubble stability exceeding one year.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of low gas-fraction dispersions with sub-micrometer bubble radii.
Characterization of the surfactant layer covering the microbubble surface.

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Last Updated: Jul 4, 2026

A Microfluidic System with Surface Patterning for Investigating Cavitation Bubble(s)–Cell Interaction and the Resultant Bioeffects at the Single-cell Level

A Microfluidic System with Surface Patterning for Investigating Cavitation Bubble(s)–Cell Interaction and the Resultant Bioeffects at the Single-cell Level

Published on: January 10, 2017

Application of thermodynamic and molecular models to explain observed phenomena.

Main Results:

Achieved dispersions of microbubbles with mean radii < 1 micrometer.
Demonstrated bubble stability lasting over one year.
Observed nanometer-scale hexagonal patterning on the bubble surface due to self-assembled surfactant layers.

Conclusions:

A novel route to produce highly stable microbubble dispersions has been identified.
Self-assembled, insoluble surfactant layers provide long-term bubble stabilization.
The elastic response of the surfactant interface is key to arresting bubble shrinkage.