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Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Plasmid Stability Analysis with Open-Source Droplet Microfluidics
Published on: December 27, 2024
Reconfigurable Microfluidic Droplets Stabilized by Nanoparticle Surfactants
Anju Toor1, Sean Lamb2, Brett A Helms1,3
1Materials Sciences Division , Lawrence Berkeley National Lab1 , One Cyclotron Road , Berkeley , California 94720 , United States.
Abstract:
Interfacial assemblies of nanoparticles can stabilize liquid-liquid interfaces. Due to the interactions between functional groups on nanoparticles dispersed in one liquid and polymers having complementary end-functionality dissolved in a second immiscible fluid, the anchoring of a well-defined number of polymer chains onto the nanoparticles leads to the formation of NP-surfactants that assemble at the interface and reduce the interfacial energy. We have developed droplet interfaces covered with elastic, responsive monolayers of NP-surfactants. Due to the presence of an elastic layer at the interface, the droplets offer a greater resistance to coalescence and can prevent the exchange of materials across interfaces. Our results show the successful encapsulation of nanoparticles, dyes, and proteins with diameters in the 2.4-30 nm range. Further, we show that stable water-in-oil droplets can be generated for various combinations of polymer ligands and nanoparticles bearing complementary functionalities. These NP-surfactant-stabilized microfluidic emulsions would enable applications requiring liquid-liquid interfaces that can adapt and respond to external stimuli and whose mechanical properties can be easily tailored.
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