Nature is remarkably adept at using interfaces to build structures, encapsulate reagents, and regulate biological processes. Inspired by Nature, we describe flexible polymer-based ribbons, termed "mesoscale polymers" (MSPs), to modulate interfacial interactions with liquid droplets. This produces unprecedented hybrid assemblies in the forms of flagellum-like structures and MSP-wrapped droplets. Successful preparation of these hybrid structures hinges on interfacial interactions and tailored MSP compositions, such as MSPs with domains possessing distinctly different affinity for fluid-fluid interfaces as well as mechanical properties. In situ measurements of MSP-droplet interactions confirm that MSPs possess a negligible bending stiffness, allowing interfacial energy to drive mesoscale assembly. By exploiting these interfacial driving forces, mesoscale polymers are demonstrated as a powerful platform that underpins the preparation of sophisticated hybrid structures in fluids.
@article{arxiv.2108.09080,
title = {Programmed Wrapping and Assembly of Droplets with Mesoscale Polymers},
author = {Dylan M. Barber and Zhefei Yang and Lucas Prevost and Olivia du Roure and Anke Lindner and Todd Emrick and Alfred J. Crosby},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2108.09080},
year = {2021}
}