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Using the sessile drop geometry to measure fluid and elastic block copolymer interfaces
Damith P Rozairo1, Andrew B Croll
1Materials and Nanotechnology and ‡Department of Physics, North Dakota State University , Fargo, North Dakota 58108, United States.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|January 8, 2015
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to measure soft capsule properties. They demonstrated that an elastic shell can mimic the mechanical response of fluid droplets, crucial for applications like drug delivery.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Soft Matter Physics
- Biophysics
Background:
- Soft spheres and capsules are vital in applications like drug delivery and cosmetics.
- Their mechanical properties are critical for performance, influencing advanced features like cargo delivery.
- Existing systems include lipid and block copolymer vesicles with significant industrial use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a model system for altering capsule structure while maintaining mechanical response.
- To introduce a universal method for measuring resulting capsule material properties.
- To investigate the mechanical behavior of elastic-shell-coated emulsion drops.
Main Methods:
- Utilized confocal microscopy to adapt sessile drop geometry for static property measurement.
- Studied polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-PEO) stabilized oil droplets.
- Synthesized and analyzed polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid)-b-polystyrene (PS-PAA-PS) elastic-shell-coated emulsion drops.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that PS-PAA-PS elastic-shell-coated drops exhibit identical deformation to fluidlike PS-PEO droplets.
- Established a relationship between sessile geometry systems and their basic material properties through modeling.
- Found that the elastic shell's response is dominated by surface tension, allowing it to match fluid drop static response.
Conclusions:
- Capsule structure can be fundamentally altered while preserving mechanical response.
- A simple, universal method for measuring capsule material properties was developed.
- Elastic shells can effectively mimic the static mechanical response of fluid drops, broadening applications in soft matter systems.
