We study dense and highly polydisperse emulsions at droplet volume fractions ϕ≥0.65. We apply oscillatory shear and observe droplet motion using confocal microscopy. The presence of droplets with sizes several times the mean size dramatically changes the motion of smaller droplets. Both affine and nonaffine droplet motions are observed, with the more nonaffine motion exhibited by the smaller dr...

We have developed a surface energy traps enabled magnetic droplet manipulation platform that provides a full range of droplet operations and enables complex liquid handling, thereby greatly extending the applicability of magnetic droplet platform to intricate biomolecular assays.

An in-depth review on a new ultrasonic micro-droplet generator which utilizes megahertz (MHz) Faraday waves excited by silicon-based multiple Fourier horn ultrasonic nozzles (MFHUNs) and its potential applications is presented. The new droplet generator has demonstrated capability for producing micro droplets of controllable size and size distribution and desirable throughput at very low electr...

Anisotropic ratchet conveyors (ARCs) are a recently developed microfluidic platform that transports liquid droplets through a passive, microfabricated surface pattern and applied orthogonal vibrations. In this work, three new functionalities are presented for controlling droplet transport on the ARC system. These devices can pause droplet transport (ARC gate), decide between two pathways of dro...

The shape of a weightless spinning liquid droplet is governed by the balance between the surface tension and centrifugal forces. The axisymmetric shape for slow rotation becomes unstable to a nonaxisymmetric distortion above a critical angular velocity, beyond which the droplet progresses through a series of 2-lobed shapes. Theory predicts the existence of a family of 3- and 4-lobed equilibrium...

We demonstrate a liquid droplet whose surface profile can be reshaped by voltage. As the dielectric force increases, the dome of a liquid droplet could touch the top substrate and become flat. While the voltage is removed, the droplet recovers to its original spherical shape. By choosing proper liquids, the required voltage for such a shape change is relatively low and the transition speed is f...

This paper reports a novel method to isolate single DNA molecules in an open container filled with oil by using Liquid Dielectrophoresis (LDEP). We successfully demonstrated the formation of 12 droplets (~200pL) from a 0.5μL DNA solution parent droplet. The parent droplet is put on 2 parallel electrodes. When an AC voltage was applied between these electrodes, the droplet deforms in a finger ri...

Image simulation methods are applied to interpret mirror electron microscopy (MEM) images obtained from a movie of GaAs droplet epitaxy. Cylindrical symmetry of structures grown by droplet epitaxy is assumed in the simulations which reproduce the main features of the experimental MEM image contrast, demonstrating that droplet epitaxy can be studied in real-time. It is therefore confirmed that a...

Lipins are phosphatidate phosphatases that generate diacylglycerol (DAG). In this study, we report that yeast lipin, Pah1p, controls the formation of cytosolic lipid droplets. Disruption of PAH1 resulted in a 63% decrease in droplet number, although total neutral lipid levels did not change. This was accompanied by an accumulation of neutral lipids in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The droplet...

In a set of experiments, Couder et al. demonstrate that an oscillating fluid bed may propagate a bouncing droplet through the guidance of the surface waves. I present a dynamical systems model, in the form of an iterative map, for a droplet on an oscillating bath. I examine the droplet bifurcation from bouncing to walking, and prescribe general requirements for the surface wave to support stabl...