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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Flash NanoPrecipitation for the Encapsulation of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Compounds in Polymeric Nanoparticles
Published on: January 7, 2019
Reversible Hydrophobicity-Hydrophilicity Transition Modulated by Surface Curvature
Zhi Zhu1, HongKai Guo2, XianKai Jiang1
1Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, Terahertz Science Cooperative Innovation Center, School of Optical-Electrical Computer Engineering , University of Shanghai for Science and Technology , Shanghai 200093 , PR China.
Abstract:
Wettability (hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity) is of fundamental importance in physical, chemical, and biological behaviors, resulting in widespread interest. Herein, by modulating surface curvature, we observed a reversible hydrophobic-hydrophilic transition on a model referred to a platinum surface. The underlying mechanism is revealed to be the competition between strong water-solid attraction and interfacial water orderliness. On the basis of the competition, we further propose an equation of wetting transition in the presence of an ordered interfacial liquid. It quantitatively reveals the relation of solid wettability with interfacial water orderliness and solid surface curvature, which can be used for predicting the critical point of the wetting transition. Our findings thus provide an innovative perspective on the design of a functional device demonstrating a reversible wettability transition and even a molecular-level understanding of biological functions.
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