This talk will describe a class of microscale capsules that move in the presence of a chemical fuel. These structures are created in situwithin a microfluidic platform using the biopolymer chitosan as precursor. Two chitosan droplets of different sizes are brought into contact by a channel expansion, whereupon they are crosslinked into a permanent dimer. The overall dimer resembles a Janus particle, and the shape and functionality of each lobe in the dimer can be varied. To create microswimmers, we load one lobe of the dimer with catalytic nanoparticles. When a chemical fuel is introduced into the solution, the fuel reacts with the catalyst, generating gas bubbles, which ultimately drive the motion of the dimer structure. The motion can be tuned by varying the size and concentration of the nanoparticles, the concentration of chemical fuel, and the extent of crosslinking of the dimer. Our approach is simple and versatile and can be easily adapted to produce a variety of capsules with motile capabilities.

Self-propelled motion of microscale capsules

247th National Meeting (2014)

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