Breakup Dynamics of Semi-dilute Polymer Solutions in a Microfluidic Flow-focusing Device

Droplet microfluidics involving non-Newtonian fluids is of great importance in both fundamental mechanisms and practical applications. In the present study, breakup dynamics in droplet generation of semi-dilute polymer solutions in a microfluidic flow-focusing device were experimentally investigated. We found that the filament thinning experiences a transition from a flow-driven to a capillary-driven regime, analogous to that of purely elastic fluids, while the highly elevated viscosity and complex network structures in the semi-dilute polymer solutions induce the breakup stages with a smaller power-law exponent and extensional relaxation time. It is elucidated that the elevated viscosity of the semi-dilute solution decelerates filament thinning in the flow-driven regime and the incomplete stretch of polymer molecules results in the smaller extensional relaxation time in the capillary-driven regime. These results extend the understanding of breakup dynamics in droplet generation of non-Newtonian fluids and provide guidance for microfluidic synthesis applications involving dense polymeric fluids.

Spreading and penetration of a micro-sized water droplet impacting onto oil layers

Direct numerical simulation of multiscale flow physics of binary droplet collision

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Trace-Detection Platform Based on Continuous-Rolling-Assisted Evaporation on Superhydrophobic Surfaces

Shape evolutions of moving fluid threads under asymmetrical confinements

Vaporization of liquid droplet with large deformation and high mass transfer rate, II: Variable-density, variable-property case

Radial extracorporeal shock wave promotes the enhanced permeability and retention effect to reinforce cancer nanothermotherapeutics

Improved Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcer upon Oxygenation Therapeutics through Oxygen-Loading Nanoperfluorocarbon Triggered by Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), the most serious complication of diabetes mellitus, can induce high morbidity, the need to amputate lower extremities, and even death. Although many adjunctive strategies have been applied for the treatment of DFUs, the low treatment efficiency, potential side effects, and high cost are still huge challenges. Recently, nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs) have achieved targeted drug delivery and controlled drug release, offering great promises in various therapeutics for diverse disorders. Additionally, the radial extracorporeal shock wave (rESW) has been shown to function as a robust trigger source for the NDDS to release its contents, as the rESW harbors a potent capability in generating pressure waves and in creating the cavitation effect. Here, we explored the performance of oxygen-loaded nanoperfluorocarbon (Nano-PFC) combined with the rESW as a treatment for DFUs. Prior to in vivo assessment, we first demonstrated the high oxygen affinity in vitro and great biocompatibility of Nano-PFC. Moreover, the rESW-responsive oxygen release behavior from oxygen-saturated Nano-PFC was also successfully verified in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, the wound healing of DFUs was significantly accelerated due to improved blood microcirculation, which was a result of rESW therapy (rESWT), and the targeted release of oxygen into the wound from oxygen-loaded Nano-PFC, which was triggered by the rESW. Collectively, the oxygen-saturated Nano-PFC and rESW provide a completely new approach to treat DFUs, and this study highlights the advantages of combining nanotechnology with rESW in therapeutics.

Recent advances in physical understanding and quantitative prediction of impinging-jet dynamics and atomization

Confinements regulate capillary instabilities of fluid threads

Deformation dynamics and breakup criteria of confined fluid threads in motion

Carbon fiber reinforced shape memory epoxy composites with superior mechanical performances

Quantitative Assessments of Mechanical Responses upon Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

Directional transport of centimeter-scale object on anisotropic microcilia surface under water

Bio-inspired superhydrophilic coatings with high anti-adhesion against mineral scales

Inertial migrations of cylindrical particles in rectangular microchannels: Variations of equilibrium positions and equivalent diameters

Tunable structures of compound droplets formed by collision of immiscible microdroplets

An improved model for thermal conductivity of nanofluids with effects of particle size and Brownian motion

Lateral migration of dual droplet trains in a double spiral microchannel

Size-Based Separation of Particles and Cells Utilizing Viscoelastic Effects in Straight Microchannels

Deformation and Interaction of Droplet Pairs in a Microchannel Under ac Electric Fields

On the Successful Encapsulation of Water Droplets into Oil Droplets

Droplet-in-oil array for picoliter-scale analysis based on sequential inkjet printing

We introduce a new model to describe the multiple printing procedure implemented by the inkjet printing approach. This non-contact and sequential picoliter droplet printing technology is named as sequential inkjet printing.

Effect of ambient pressure on liquid swirl injector flow dynamics

Thickness-based adaptive mesh refinement methods for multi-phase flow simulations with thin regions

Inertial migration of deformable droplets in a microchannel

HIGH-FIDELITY SIMULATIONS OF IMPINGING JET ATOMIZATION

Investigation on Dynamic Response Properties of High-Tc Superconducting System: Application for the Maglev Test Vehicle

Dynamic Force Properties of a High Temperature Superconducting Maglev Test Vehicle

Hysteresis force loss and damping properties in a practical magnet–superconductor maglev test vehicle

Levitation characteristics in an HTS maglev launch assist test vehicle

Levitation characteristics of a high-temperature superconducting Maglev system for launching space vehicles