Nanotechnology Now

Our NanoNews Digest Sponsors
Heifer International



Home > Press > Groundbreaking research to help control liquids at micro and nano scales

Abstract:
From targeted drug delivery to the self-assembly of nano robots, new research by Northumbria University, Newcastle, is using super-sized atoms to reveal the behaviour of liquids in microscopic channels.

Groundbreaking research to help control liquids at micro and nano scales

Newcastle upon Tyne, UK | Posted on July 3rd, 2015

The study, which has been led by Dr Rodrigo Ledesma-Aguilar; a senior lecturer in the Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering in Northumbria University, is a collaborative effort between Oxford University, the University of Barcelona and UT Malaysia.

Using the already established “lab on a chip” device which can perform complex laboratory functions in a tiny space, the team has unveiled how fluids behave under extreme confinement by using micron-sized particles known as colloids to act as oversized atoms.

Atoms are tiny and cannot be seen under a microscope. This is not the same for colloidal particles, however, and this makes it possible for scientists to understand the behaviour of fluids – such as water – at extremely small scales.

The team used a colloidal mix to figure out how fluids behave in micron sized channels. Using a technique called “confocal microscopy” they managed to observe in detail, for the first time, the flow of a two-phase mixture; very similar to having oil separated from water.

The new research shows how simple changes in the channel size can be used to create very small structures, including droplets and jets.

This ability to control fluid structures at such small scales can be potentially used to devise new ways that improve the delivery and the effectiveness of drugs, and to assist the assembly of more complex structures such as micro robots that can travel, for example, around the bloodstream to deliver lifesaving drugs.

Dr Ledesma-Aguilar said: “We have revealed the next piece of a puzzle that over time can lead to the controlled tailoring of liquids at extremely small scales.

“This knowledge opens the door to developing new devices that target other liquids, such as water-based solutions, to tailor the formation of drops, jets and streams of a few nanometres in size.”

Prof Ignacio Pagonabarraga, from the University of Barcelona, said: “The ability to control drops can also be used to guide the assembly of micro robots, or to act as microscopic beakers for chemical reactions for the development of smart materials such as clever sensors.”

Dr Ledesma-Aguilar added: “Using knowledge from one system to understand another is not particular to the way we have used colloidal mixtures to understand liquids, it is an underpinning principle of how physics works to make sense of the world around us, and unveiling such generality is perhaps one of the most beautiful aspects of it.”

####

About Northumbria University
• Northumbria University, Newcastle, is a research-rich, business-focused, professional university with a global reputation for academic excellence

• Northumbria is one of the largest universities in the UK with more than 33,000 students from 126 countries.

• Programmes awarded professional recognition by the Institute of Physics (IOP) and have had accreditation by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) for 30 years, which is part of the Engineering Council (EC).

• Strong internationalization with students from a wide range of countries, including China, India, Pakistan and the Middle East.

• Awarded £1.2M by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for the “Think Physics” project addressing progression into Higher Education by underrepresented groups, particularly females.

• A top-35 research department with 79% of outputs ranked world-leading or internationally excellent according to the latest UK wide research assessment exercise (REF2014, UoA15). This places Northumbria in the top quartile for world-leading publications among UK universities in General Engineering.

• Northumbria University offers flexible undergraduate courses in Physics and Electrical Engineering with BSc (Hons), BEng (Hons) and integrated Masters MPhys and MEng programmes.

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Shirley Morgan
+44 (0)191 232 6002

Copyright © AlphaGalileo Ltd

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark:
Delicious Digg Newsvine Google Yahoo Reddit Magnoliacom Furl Facebook

Related News Press

Chemistry

Cambridge chemists discover simple way to build bigger molecules – one carbon at a time June 6th, 2025

News and information

INRS and ELI deepen strategic partnership to train the next generation in laser science:PhD students will benefit from international mobility and privileged access to cutting-edge infrastructure June 6th, 2025

Electrifying results shed light on graphene foam as a potential material for lab grown cartilage June 6th, 2025

Quantum computers simulate fundamental physics: shedding light on the building blocks of nature June 6th, 2025

A 1960s idea inspires NBI researchers to study hitherto inaccessible quantum states June 6th, 2025

Robotics

Nanofibrous metal oxide semiconductor for sensory face November 8th, 2024

Virginia Tech physicists propose path to faster, more flexible robots: Virginia Tech physicists revealed a microscopic phenomenon that could greatly improve the performance of soft devices, such as agile flexible robots or microscopic capsules for drug delivery May 17th, 2024

A color-based sensor to emulate skin's sensitivity: In a step toward more autonomous soft robots and wearable technologies, EPFL researchers have created a device that uses color to simultaneously sense multiple mechanical and temperature stimuli December 8th, 2023

Femtosecond laser technique births "dancing microrobots": USTC's breakthrough in multi-material microfabrication August 11th, 2023

Possible Futures

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers several steps closer to harnessing patient's own T-cells to fight off cancer June 6th, 2025

Researchers unveil a groundbreaking clay-based solution to capture carbon dioxide and combat climate change June 6th, 2025

Cambridge chemists discover simple way to build bigger molecules – one carbon at a time June 6th, 2025

A 1960s idea inspires NBI researchers to study hitherto inaccessible quantum states June 6th, 2025

Molecular Nanotechnology

Quantum pumping in molecular junctions August 16th, 2024

Scientists push the boundaries of manipulating light at the submicroscopic level March 3rd, 2023

Scientist mimic nature to make nano particle metallic snowflakes: Scientists in New Zealand and Australia working at the level of atoms created something unexpected: tiny metallic snowflakes December 9th, 2022

First electric nanomotor made from DNA material: Synthetic rotary motors at the nanoscale perform mechanical work July 22nd, 2022

Self Assembly

Diamond glitter: A play of colors with artificial DNA crystals May 17th, 2024

Liquid crystal templated chiral nanomaterials October 14th, 2022

Nanoclusters self-organize into centimeter-scale hierarchical assemblies April 22nd, 2022

Atom by atom: building precise smaller nanoparticles with templates March 4th, 2022

Nanomedicine

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers several steps closer to harnessing patient's own T-cells to fight off cancer June 6th, 2025

Cambridge chemists discover simple way to build bigger molecules – one carbon at a time June 6th, 2025

Electrifying results shed light on graphene foam as a potential material for lab grown cartilage June 6th, 2025

Self-propelled protein-based nanomotors for enhanced cancer therapy by inducing ferroptosis June 6th, 2025

Sensors

Quantum sensors tested for next-generation particle physics experiments: New research shows that the specialized sensors can detect particles more precisely April 25th, 2025

Quantum engineers ‘squeeze’ laser frequency combs to make more sensitive gas sensors January 17th, 2025

UCF researcher discovers new technique for infrared “color” detection and imaging: The new specialized tunable detection and imaging technique for infrared photons surpasses present technology and may be a cost-effective method of capturing thermal imaging or night vision, medica December 13th, 2024

Nanotechnology: Flexible biosensors with modular design November 8th, 2024

Discoveries

Researchers unveil a groundbreaking clay-based solution to capture carbon dioxide and combat climate change June 6th, 2025

Cambridge chemists discover simple way to build bigger molecules – one carbon at a time June 6th, 2025

Electrifying results shed light on graphene foam as a potential material for lab grown cartilage June 6th, 2025

A 1960s idea inspires NBI researchers to study hitherto inaccessible quantum states June 6th, 2025

Announcements

INRS and ELI deepen strategic partnership to train the next generation in laser science:PhD students will benefit from international mobility and privileged access to cutting-edge infrastructure June 6th, 2025

Electrifying results shed light on graphene foam as a potential material for lab grown cartilage June 6th, 2025

Quantum computers simulate fundamental physics: shedding light on the building blocks of nature June 6th, 2025

A 1960s idea inspires NBI researchers to study hitherto inaccessible quantum states June 6th, 2025

Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals/White papers/Posters

Cambridge chemists discover simple way to build bigger molecules – one carbon at a time June 6th, 2025

Electrifying results shed light on graphene foam as a potential material for lab grown cartilage June 6th, 2025

Quantum computers simulate fundamental physics: shedding light on the building blocks of nature June 6th, 2025

A 1960s idea inspires NBI researchers to study hitherto inaccessible quantum states June 6th, 2025

Nanobiotechnology

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers several steps closer to harnessing patient's own T-cells to fight off cancer June 6th, 2025

Electrifying results shed light on graphene foam as a potential material for lab grown cartilage June 6th, 2025

Self-propelled protein-based nanomotors for enhanced cancer therapy by inducing ferroptosis June 6th, 2025

Low-cost formulation reduces dose and increases efficacy of drug against worms: Praziquantel, usually administered in large tablets, is the only anthelmintic available on the market. New form of presentation uses nanotechnology and facilitates use by children and pets May 16th, 2025

Research partnerships

INRS and ELI deepen strategic partnership to train the next generation in laser science:PhD students will benefit from international mobility and privileged access to cutting-edge infrastructure June 6th, 2025

Superconductors: Amazingly orderly disorder: A surprising effect was discovered through a collaborative effort by researchers from TU Wien and institutions in Croatia, France, Poland, Singapore, Switzerland, and the US during the investigation of a special material: the atoms are May 14th, 2025

HKU physicists uncover hidden order in the quantum world through deconfined quantum critical points April 25th, 2025

SMART researchers pioneer first-of-its-kind nanosensor for real-time iron detection in plants February 28th, 2025

NanoNews-Digest
The latest news from around the world, FREE




  Premium Products
NanoNews-Custom
Only the news you want to read!
 Learn More
NanoStrategies
Full-service, expert consulting
 Learn More











ASP
Nanotechnology Now Featured Books




NNN

The Hunger Project