Electrical Control of Droplet Direction for Coalescence of Multiple Nano-liter Droplets

本研究的目的是建立电控制液滴喷射方向的技术，用于多个定向喷射的液滴（最多21个）在空气中的聚结。合并这样一个大量的纳升液滴半空中是前所未有的，是变革性的，因为它使半空中微观混合，合成，分析等基础研究将进行阐明的基本物理定向液滴喷射由一个聚焦的声束，喷射纳升液滴与电气可控的方向，并合并大量的喷射液滴在空气中。智能的优点是在电可控的方向，其中的液滴喷射，它的使用在合并的错误喷射的液滴在空气中，和空中聚结的新应用。液滴方向的电可控性将允许对方向、液滴聚结和聚结后的后续事件进行精细控制。将开发能够在宽角度范围内改变喷射方向的多方向液滴喷射器阵列，并将其用于蛋白质结晶的自动化筛选。更广泛的影响是细胞分离和/或裂解、蛋白质合成和/或结晶、高通量和高精度的复杂组合分析，拟议的基础研究的结果将纳入研究机构的跨学科课程。此外，一些本科生，特别是来自代表性不足的群体，将被纳入研究。此外，洛杉矶南部的市中心高中将提供一些液滴喷射器，高中生可以在他们的科学实验室进行实验。

The objective of this research is to establish the technology for electrical control of droplet-ejection direction for coalescence of multiple directionally-ejected droplets (up to 21) in air. Coalescence of such a large number of nanoliter droplets midair is unprecedented, and is transformative as it enables midair micromixing, synthesis, analysis, etc. Fundamental studies will be performed to elucidate the underlying physics of directional droplet ejections by a focused acoustic beam, to eject nanoliter droplets with electrically controllable directions, and to merge a large number of ejected droplets in air. The intellectual merit is in the electrical controllability of the direction in which the droplets are ejected, its usage in merging simultaneously-ejected droplets in air, and the novel applications of the midair coalescence. The electrical controllability of the droplet direction will allow fine control of the direction, droplet-coalescence, and ensuing event after the coalescence. Array of multi-directional droplet ejectors capable of varying their ejection direction over a wide angle will be developed and used for automated screening of protein crystallization.The broader impacts are on cell separation and/or lysis, protein synthesis and/or crystallization, complex combinatory analyses at high throughput and great precision, etc. The results of the proposed fundamental studies will be incorporated into the interdisciplinary curriculum at the investigators' institution. Also, several undergraduate students, particularly from underrepresented groups, will be included in the research. Moreover, local inner-city high schools in south Los Angeles will be offered some droplet ejectors with which the high school students can experiment in their science labs.