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Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

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The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...

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Capillarity describes the movement of liquid in small spaces without external forces acting on it. The capillarity is driven by surface tension and adhesive interactions between the liquid and surrounding solid surfaces. This effect is often seen in narrow tubes, porous materials, and fine particles.
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Fabricating High-viscosity Droplets using Microfluidic Capillary Device with Phase-inversion Co-flow Structure

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Published on: April 17, 2018

Interfacial Tension Modulates Viscous Microfluidic Droplet Generation.

Aarthi Namasivayam^1,2, Christopher J Halbrook^3,2,4, Elliot E Hui^1,2

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology

|December 25, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Generating 3D tissue models for drug screening using microfluidic droplets is challenging due to high viscosity. Lowering interfacial tension with surfactants effectively overcomes this viscosity issue in basement membrane extracts.

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Capillary-based Centrifugal Microfluidic Device for Size-controllable Formation of Monodisperse Microdroplets

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Published on: February 22, 2016

Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Biomaterials Engineering
Drug Discovery

Background:

Mammalian cell culture in nanoliter droplets of extracellular matrix is a promising platform for high-throughput drug screening.
3D tissue models offer more physiologically relevant environments compared to 2D cultures.
Microfluidic droplet generation with viscous materials like basement membrane extracts presents significant technical challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the challenges of microfluidic droplet generation using high-viscosity basement membrane extracts.
To identify methods for optimizing droplet generation for 3D tissue model applications.
To explore the role of interfacial tension and surfactant concentration in overcoming viscosity limitations.

Main Methods:

Utilized a T-junction microfluidic device for droplet generation.
Performed a parametric study varying surfactant concentration.
Analyzed droplet formation characteristics in relation to viscosity and interfacial tension.

Main Results:

High viscosity of basement membrane extracts (e.g., Matrigel, Cultrex) significantly complicates microfluidic droplet generation.
Increased capillary numbers associated with high viscosity hinder stable droplet formation.
Lowering interfacial tension through surfactant addition effectively abrogates the negative effects of high viscosity.
Surfactant concentration is a key parameter for modulating interfacial tension and achieving quality droplet generation.

Conclusions:

Microfluidic droplet generation with viscous basement membrane extracts can be optimized by controlling interfacial tension.
Surfactant-mediated reduction of interfacial tension is a viable strategy to enable high-throughput screening on 3D tissue models.
This approach facilitates the development of advanced drug screening platforms using bioprinted 3D tissue models.