Abstract: The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer.

Abstract: A method includes separately conveying a first liquid solution (36) containing the first material and a second liquid solution (46) containing a liquid polyelectrolyte. The method includes forming of a series of drops (78) at the outlet (50), each drop (78) including a central core (80) formed from a first solution (36) and a peripheral film (82) formed from a second solution. The method includes immersing each drop (78) in a gelling solution (70) containing a reagent capable of reacting with the polyelectrolyte of the film (82) so as to form the gelled casing. The second solution (40) contains at least one surfactant before the former contacts the first solution (36).

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to emulsions such as multiple emulsions, and to methods and apparatuses for making emulsions, and techniques for using the same. A multiple emulsion generally describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein which, in some cases, can contain even smaller droplets therein, etc. Emulsions, including multiple emulsions can be formed in certain embodiments with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored to include any number of inner droplets, in any desired nesting arrangement, within a single outer droplet. In addition, in some aspects of the invention, one or more droplets may be controllably released from a surrounding droplet.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to emulsions such as multiple emulsions, and to methods and apparatuses for making emulsions, and techniques for using the same. A multiple emulsion generally describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein which, in some cases, can contain even smaller droplets therein, etc. Emulsions, including multiple emulsions can be formed in certain embodiments with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored to include any number of inner droplets, in any desired nesting arrangement, within a single outer droplet. In addition, in some aspects of the invention, one or more droplets may be controllably released from a surrounding droplet.

Abstract: At least one of a hollow particle 14, a porous particle 24, and a solid particle 34 having the pores 18, 28, 38 on the surface thereof is subjected to plasma irradiation under a reduced pressure while changing plasma irradiation intensity and/or the degree of vacuum. After the plasma irradiation, at least one type of monomer is graft polymerized onto the surface of the plasma irradiated particle by contact between the at least one type of monomer and the particle so as to substantially fill the pores 18, 28, and 38 of the particle with grafted polymers 12 of the monomers.

Abstract: At least one of a hollow particle 14, a porous particle 24, and a solid particle 34 having the pores 18, 28, 38 on the surface thereof is subjected to plasma irradiation under a reduced pressure while changing plasma irradiation intensity and/or the degree of vacuum. After the plasma irradiation, at least one type of monomer is graft polymerized onto the surface of the plasma irradiated particle by contact between the at least one type of monomer and the particle so as to substantially fill the pores 18, 28, and 38 of the particle with grafted polymers 12 of the monomers.