Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
09:26
Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
Published on: April 22, 2016
Morphogenic colloids
Florent Fessler1,2, Adam W Hauser3,4, Hailiang Liu3
1Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA. florentfessler@nyu.edu.
Nature Communications
|July 18, 2026
Summary
Researchers created a simple platform using emulsion droplets and copolymers to mimic biological morphogenesis. This system shows reversible shape changes and internal structure formation, offering insights into life-like adaptability in synthetic systems.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
- Soft Matter Physics
Background:
- Biological morphogenesis involves complex physicochemical processes to create functional structures.
- Synthetic replication of these dynamic transformations remains a significant scientific challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a minimal synthetic platform that recapitulates key features of biological morphogenesis.
- To investigate reversible shape morphing and topology transitions in emulsion droplets.
Main Methods:
- Utilized emulsion droplets exposed to amphiphilic triblock copolymers (BCPs).
- Observed interfacial self-assembly of BCPs and droplet swelling.
- Investigated morphological transitions tuned by BCP concentration and temperature.
Main Results:
- Droplets exhibited spontaneous topological remodeling and internalization of surrounding aqueous phase and colloids.
- A spectrum of non-spherical morphologies were stabilized and reversibly tuned.
- Transitions were synchronized across droplet populations and could be fixed via photopolymerization.
Conclusions:
- The BCP-emulsion system serves as a tractable model for studying morphogenesis principles.
- This platform advances colloidal systems toward biologically relevant complexity and life-like adaptability.
- Demonstrated a simple method for creating dynamic, adaptable synthetic structures.
Related Concept Videos
03:22Colloids
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...
01:17Colloids and Suspensions
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles visible to the naked eye or seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. The suspended particles in a suspension settle out after some time of mixing. The separation of particles from a suspension is...