Colloidal systems with competing interactions have a complex phase diagram with several periodic microphases, in which particles are arranged in lamellae, cylinders or clusters. Using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate how the structure of the colloidal fluid can be modified by confinement in channels with different cross-section geometries and sizes. We pay particular attention to the hexagonal cylindrical phase since it is the most susceptible to form new structures from. In particular, we considered pores with elliptical, triangular, squared, hexagonal, and wedged-cylindrical cross-sections. Our results show that the structure of the confined fluid depends on the commensurability of the bulk periodic structure with the confining cross-section of the channel. We also find that the structure of the confined fluid can be modified by inserting wedges of appropriate geometry and size. These geometrical modifications of the confining pores can be exploited for the controlled assembly of colloidal structures.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9sm02002k | DOI Listing |
Phys Chem Chem Phys
January 2025
State Key Lab of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
Mechanoresponsive colloidal photonic crystals embedded in elastic solid matrices exhibit tunable optical properties under mechanical force, showing great potential for various applications. However, the response of colloidal crystals embedded in a liquid matrix remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigate the structural and optical transitions of colloidal crystals composed of particles suspended in a liquid oligomer under pressing and shear forces.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSoft Matter
January 2025
Departamento de Estructura de la Materia, Física Térmica y Electrónica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
The effect of gravity on the collective motion of living microswimmers, such as bacteria and micro-algae, is pivotal to unravel not only bio-convection patterns but also the settling of bacterial biofilms on solid surfaces. In this work, we investigate suspensions of microswimmers under the influence of a gravitational field and hydrodynamics, simulated the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) coarse-grained model. We first study the collective sedimentation of passive colloids and microswimmers of the puller and pusher types upon increasing the imposed gravitational field and compare them with previous results.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Nanomedicine
January 2025
Department of Stomatology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
Background: Regenerating periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue is a vital challenge in dentistry that aims to restore periodontal function and aesthetics. This study explores a tissue engineering strategy that combines polycaprolactone (PCL)/collagen/cellulose acetate electrospun scaffolds with collagen hydrogels to deliver curcumin-loaded ZIF-8 nanoparticles fand periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs).
Methods: Scaffolds were fabricated via electrospinningand collagen hydrogels incorporated PDLSCs and curcumin-loaded ZIF-8 nanoparticles (CURZIF-8) were developed using cross-linking.
Int J Nanomedicine
January 2025
Shanghai Eighth People's Hospital, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China.
Purpose: Gastrostomy is the commonly used enteral feeding technology. The clinical risks caused by tube dislodgement and peristomal site infection are the common complications before complete tract maturation after gastrostomy. However, there is currently no relevant research to promote gastrostomy wound treatment and tract maturation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSoft Matter
January 2025
Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, Vienna 1090, Austria.
Particle-tracking microrheology probes the rheology of soft materials by accurately tracking an ensemble of embedded colloidal tracer particles. One-particle analysis, which focuses on the trajectory of individual tracers is ideal for homogeneous materials that do not interact with the particles. By contrast, the characterization of heterogeneous, micro-structured materials or those where particles interact directly with the medium requires a two-particle analysis that characterizes correlations between the trajectories of distinct particle pairs.
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