Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Mechanism of Ciliary Motion01:05

Mechanism of Ciliary Motion

3.7K
The ciliary structures were first seen in 1647 by Antonie Leeuwenhoek while observing the protozoans. In lower organisms, these appendages are responsible for cell movement, while in higher organisms, these appendages help in the movement of the extracellular fluids within the body cavities.
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...
3.7K
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

2.3K
Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
2.3K
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

2.6K
Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
2.6K
Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

2.8K
Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a...
2.8K
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

5.2K
Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
5.2K
Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

2.9K
The straight or branched structure formation of actin filaments is controlled by nucleating proteins such as the formins and Arp2/3 complex. Formin-mediated assembly results in straight filaments, whereas Arp2/3 protein complex-mediated assembly results in branched actin filaments.
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...
2.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Spreading and absorption of silicone oil droplets on silicone elastomer films.

The European physical journal. E, Soft matter·2026
Same author

The pendant drop experiment for aggregates of cohesive granular particles.

Soft matter·2025
Same author

Simple method for the direct measurement of cohesive forces between microscopic particles.

The European physical journal. E, Soft matter·2025
Same author

Two-dimensional spreading of frictionless adhesive oil droplets.

Soft matter·2023
Same author

Preparation of ultra-thin elastomeric films.

The European physical journal. E, Soft matter·2023
Same author

On the bridge hypothesis in the glass transition of freestanding polymer films.

The European physical journal. E, Soft matter·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Taking Advantage of Reduced Droplet-surface Interaction to Optimize Transport of Bioanalytes in Digital Microfluidics
07:57

Taking Advantage of Reduced Droplet-surface Interaction to Optimize Transport of Bioanalytes in Digital Microfluidics

Published on: November 10, 2014

7.9K

Directed droplet motion along thin fibers.

Hamza K Khattak1, Aileen Shanzeela1, Elie Raphael2

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada.

PNAS Nexus
|March 19, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Microscopic droplets spontaneously move along angled fibers, with speed dependent on fiber angle and droplet span. This fiber-droplet interaction can create a droplet ratchet for controlled motion and merging.

Keywords:
dropletsfibersmicrofluidics

More Related Videos

Prescribed 3-D Direct Writing of Suspended Micron/Sub-micron Scale Fiber Structures via a Robotic Dispensing System
10:36

Prescribed 3-D Direct Writing of Suspended Micron/Sub-micron Scale Fiber Structures via a Robotic Dispensing System

Published on: June 12, 2015

8.0K
Ex vivo Method for High Resolution Imaging of Cilia Motility in Rodent Airway Epithelia
08:25

Ex vivo Method for High Resolution Imaging of Cilia Motility in Rodent Airway Epithelia

Published on: August 8, 2013

20.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Taking Advantage of Reduced Droplet-surface Interaction to Optimize Transport of Bioanalytes in Digital Microfluidics
07:57

Taking Advantage of Reduced Droplet-surface Interaction to Optimize Transport of Bioanalytes in Digital Microfluidics

Published on: November 10, 2014

7.9K
Prescribed 3-D Direct Writing of Suspended Micron/Sub-micron Scale Fiber Structures via a Robotic Dispensing System
10:36

Prescribed 3-D Direct Writing of Suspended Micron/Sub-micron Scale Fiber Structures via a Robotic Dispensing System

Published on: June 12, 2015

8.0K
Ex vivo Method for High Resolution Imaging of Cilia Motility in Rodent Airway Epithelia
08:25

Ex vivo Method for High Resolution Imaging of Cilia Motility in Rodent Airway Epithelia

Published on: August 8, 2013

20.9K

Area of Science:

  • Physics
  • Materials Science
  • Fluid Dynamics

Background:

  • Understanding droplet behavior on structured surfaces is crucial for microfluidics and materials science.
  • Capillary forces and surface tension govern droplet dynamics at the microscale.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the spontaneous motion of microscopic droplets on angled fibers.
  • To characterize the relationship between droplet speed, fiber angle, and droplet span.
  • To explore the potential of engineered fiber geometries for droplet manipulation.

Main Methods:

  • Placing microscopic droplets between fibers held at a fixed angle.
  • Measuring droplet motion speed as a function of fiber angle and droplet span.
  • Bending fibers into a sawtooth geometry to create a droplet ratchet.

Main Results:

  • Droplets spontaneously moved towards the apex of the angled fibers.
  • Droplet motion speed increased with both fiber angle and droplet span.
  • A simple scaling relationship described the droplet speed.
  • A sawtooth fiber geometry induced directed linear motion and droplet merging.

Conclusions:

  • Fiber geometry significantly influences microscopic droplet dynamics.
  • Engineered fiber structures can be used to control droplet transport and merging.
  • The observed phenomena have potential applications in microfluidic devices and lab-on-a-chip technologies.