Abstract: This disclosure demonstrates a new method to produce three dimensional multiphasic structures, including bijels, via vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS). In VIPS, the evaporation of the co-solvent from a ternary mixture of oil, water and ethanol, induces phase separation. Particles present in the mixture attach to the interface and arrest the phase separation between water and oil. VIPS enables, inter alia, the fabrication of films and coatings via spreading or spraying particle-laden suspension onto a surface without the need for an outer aqueous phase.

Abstract: A method, comprising: providing a substrate having present thereon a pattern of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions; contacting a polymerizable composition to the substate so as to confer the pattern of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions onto the polymerizable composition; and polymerizing the polymerizable composition. A device, comprising a polymeric substrate, the poly-meric substrate having disposed thereon pattern of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, the polymeric substrate comprising a first component that is comparatively hydrophobic relative to a second component of the composition, and a hydrophobic region of the polymeric substrate being comparatively rich in the first component relative to the second component. A method, comprising using a microfluidic device according to the present disclosure to form an emulsion.

Abstract: Provided is a method, performed by a computing system, of detecting an abnormality, the method including generating, a plurality of training data sets from respective history data of the plurality of pieces of equipment, generating, based on the plurality of training data sets, a plurality of machine learning models respectively corresponding to the plurality of pieces of equipment, determining, based on a plurality of feature importance sets respectively corresponding to the plurality of machine learning models, a plurality of inefficiency indices respectively corresponding to the plurality of pieces of equipment, and identifying, based on the plurality of inefficiency indices, at least one piece of abnormal equipment among the plurality of pieces of equipment.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a microfluidic component, for example, from glass and/or Si substrates, with the microfluidic component including therein patterned regions of relative hydrophobicity and relative hydrophilicity. Also provided are microfluidic components that include the substrates bonded together, the microfluidic components including therein patterned regions of relative hydrophobicity and relative hydrophilicity. The regions can be on any one or more of a floor, a wall, or a ceiling of a channel of the microfluidic component.

Abstract: Provided are adhesive dendritic particles, which particles can be used for sustained delivery of an active agent to a location or locations at which the particles are adhered. Also provided are related methods of use and methods of formulating the disclosed particles.

Abstract: A heterostructured film configured to effect capillary condensation, the heterostructured film comprising: a bed of hydrophilic nanoparticles, the nanoparticles defining interstitial spaces therebetween; and a solidified hydrophobic polymer, the solidified hydrophobic polymer (i) bridging adjacent nanoparticles, (ii) partially filing some of the interstitial spaces between nanoparticles, or both (i) and (ii), and the heterostructured film having a porous surface that defines pores in fluid communication with at least some of the interstitial spaces. A method, comprising exposing a heterostructured film according to any aspect herein to an atmosphere under such conditions that water from the atmosphere isothermally forms droplets on the porous surface of the heterostructured film. A method, comprising: contacting a heterostructured film according to any aspect herein to an atmosphere so as to effect isothermal recovery of water from the atmosphere.

Abstract: Adhesive hydrogels comprising a (co)polymer matrix, wherein the adhesive hydrogel comprises at least one rough surface as well as processes for preparing such hydrogels are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of making robust bijels include dispersing metal oxide precursors and/or metal salts into at least one phase of a bijel and hydrolyzing and condensing the metal oxide precursors and/or metal salts in a sol-gel reaction to form sintered bridges between interfacially jammed surface-active nanoparticles. The methods can be used with any bijels, including those produced during solvent transfer-induced phase separation (STRIPS) methods and other methods. A robust bijel includes chemically sintered bridges between the interfacially jammed surface-active nanoparticles. Methods of making nanocatalyst-functionalized sintered bijels include adsorbing metal salts to a surface of sintered interfacially jammed nanoparticles of bijels, and reducing the metal precursors on the surface of the sintered nanoparticles. Nanocatalyst-functionalized sintered bijels include catalytically active metal or metal oxide nanocatalysts on a surface of the sintered interfacially jammed surface-active nanoparticles.

Abstract: Provided is photoactivated selective release (or PHASR) of droplets from a microwell array enabled by a photoresponsive polymer layer integrated into the microfluidic device. This photoresponsive layer is placed in between a microwell array that traps a large number of droplets and a monolithic flow chamber that can be used for recovery. By using focused light, the photoresponsive layer can either be punctured or induced to create local heating to selectively release droplets. The type of photoacoustic dye and the physical properties of the photoresponsive layer can be engineered to induce either puncture of the membrane or pushing of droplets out of the microwells with low thermal impact on the droplets. This approach has broad application in the field of soft lithography-based microfluidic devices for various applications including photoresponsive valves as well as high throughput single cell sequencing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to mechanically-activated microcapsules (MAMCs) for controlled drug-delivery, wherein the MAMCs release one or more active ingredients in response to mechanical stimuli in a subject's body. The MAMCs provide a platform for stimulating biological regeneration, biological repair, modifying disease, and/or controlling disease in mechanically-loaded musculoskeletal tissues.

Abstract: A method of making a bijel includes dispersing surface-active nanoparticles in a ternary liquid mixture. The ternary liquid mixture includes a hydrophilic liquid, a hydrophobic liquid, and a solvent. The ternary liquid mixture is contacted with water. A bijel includes a stable mixture of two immiscible liquids separated by an interfacial layer of colloidal particles. The bijel has temperature-independent stability, and the domain sizes are below one micrometer.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a microcapsule includes a film encapsulating a material. The film is formed by complexation of at least two mutually attractive components initially present in an aqueous dispersion comprising a continuous phase and a dispersed phase. The at least one first component is initially present in the continuous phase and the at least one second component is initially present in the dispersed phase. According to another aspect of the invention, provided is a process for forming microcapsules including the step of injecting a dispersed phase having at least a first component into a continuous phase having at least a second component, where the first component and the second component are mutually attractive, such that a film is formed by complexation of the first charged component and the second charged component.

Abstract: A method, comprising: etching, in a first surface of a substrate having first and second surfaces spaced from one another along a transverse direction, a plurality of delivery channels such that a delivery channel has a first cross-sectional dimension along a first plane that is perpendicular to the transverse direction; forming an oxide layer on the first surface of the substrate and on inner surfaces of the delivery channels; etching vias in the second surface of the substrate so each via is aligned with a respective one of the delivery channels along the transverse direction; etching droplet generators in the second surface of the substrate such that each droplet generator is in fluid communication with at least one of vias; removing the oxide layer from the first surface of the substrate and the inner surfaces of the delivery channels to place the vias in fluid communication with the delivery channels.

Abstract: Provided are localized therapeutic delivery articles, comprising: a first fibrous layer comprising a first plurality of nanofibers; and a second fibrous layer comprising a second plurality of nanofibers, the first fibrous layer and the second fibrous layer being sealed to one another so as to define at least one sealed compartment therebetween, the article optionally comprising a first population of mechanically-responsive delivery particles configured to rupture upon exposure to a first rupture force, the first population of mechanically responsive delivery particles being disposed within at least one sealed compartment. The nanofibers can be aligned, which alignment allows the layers to emulate the structure of various body tissues, thereby affording control over cell growth on the articles. Also provided are methods of using and fabricating the disclosed articles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to mechanically-activated microcapsules (MAMCs) for controlled drug-delivery, wherein the MAMCs release one or more active ingredients in response to mechanical stimuli in a subject's body. The MAMCs provide a platform for stimulating biological regeneration, biological repair, modifying disease, and/or controlling disease in mechanically-loaded musculoskeletal tissues.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a microfluidic device has a substrate that defines a first inlet for a continuous phase fluid, a second inlet for a dispersed phase fluid, and droplet generators that can produce micro-droplets from the continuous and dispersed phase fluids. The substrate defines (i) a plurality of delivery channels in fluid communication with the first and second inlets, each delivery channel having a first dimension along a first plane that is perpendicular to a transverse direction, and (ii) a plurality of trenches that extend from the delivery channels towards the droplet generators along the transverse direction. Each trench has a second dimension along a plane that is perpendicular to the transverse direction that is smaller than the first dimension. The substrate defines a plurality of vias that extend from the trenches to the droplet generators so as to fluidly connect the delivery channels with the droplet generators.

Abstract: A method, comprising: with a bijel that comprises (i) a hydrophilic phase, (ii) a hydrophobic phase that comprises a polymerizable component, and (iii) a jammed nanoparticle layer having a 3-dimensional structure and being present at an interface between the hydrophilic phase and the polymerizable hydrophobic phase, polymerizing the polymerizable component so as to form a porous polymerized structure contacting the nanoparticles; and pyrolyzing the porous polymerized structure to give rise to a carbonaceous structure defining a porous carbonaceous wall that separates bicontinuous inner and outer pore phases, the porous carbonaceous wall contacting the nanoparticles. A carbonaceous material, comprising a porous carbonaceous wall that defines bicontinuous inner and outer pore phases.

Abstract: Provided are Janus particles derived from natural starting materials, including starting materials that are plant-based and are not based on petrochemicals. Also provided are related compositions that include the disclosed particles, including emulsion compositions. Additionally provided are methods of synthesizing the disclosed Janus particles.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter provides systems and methods for delivering a therapeutic agent for targeted treatments. The system can include at least one microcapsule and a magnetic system. The microcapsule can include the therapeutic agent and a layer of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). The therapeutic agent can be encapsulated by the layer of the IONPs that include a first type of nanoparticles and a second type of nanoparticles. The magnetic system can be configured to generate a magnetic field to control the motion of the microcapsule as well as to assemble into multi-capsule structure and control its motion. Assemblies of multiple microcapsules can be controlled simultaneously and directed to targeted areas for delivery of larger therapeutic payload.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for inducing strain fields to give rise to controllable wrinkle patterns in a variety of substrates. Also provided are articles having persistent wrinkling patterns thereon.