Detaching Microparticles from a Liquid Surface.

The work required to detach microparticles from fluid interfaces depends on the shape of the liquid meniscus. However, measuring the capillary force on a single microparticle and simultaneously imaging the shape of the liquid meniscus has not yet been accomplished. To correlate force and shape, we combined a laser scanning confocal microscope with a colloidal probe setup. While moving a hydrophobic microsphere (radius 5-10 µm) in and out of a 2-5 µm thick glycerol film, we simultaneously measured the force and imaged the shape of the liquid meniscus. In this way we verified the fundamental equations [D. F. James, J. Fluid Mech. 63, 657 (1974)JFLSA70022-112010.1017/S0022112074002126; A. D. Scheludko, A. D. Nikolov, Colloid Polymer Sci. 253, 396 (1975)] that describe the adhesion of particles in flotation, deinking of paper, the stability of Pickering emulsions and particle-stabilized foams. Comparing experimental results with theory showed, however, that the receding contact angle has to be applied, which can be much lower than the static contact angle obtained right after jump in of the particle.

Orthogonal photo-switching of supramolecular patterned surfaces.

We used Azo/α-CD and ipAzo/γ-CD host-guest complexes to demonstrate that four independent stable states can be orthogonally photo-switched by UV (365 nm), blue (470 nm), green (530 nm) and red light (625 nm). A supramolecular patterned surface was fabricated and orthogonally photo-switched by light with different wavelengths.

3D Imaging of Water-Drop Condensation on Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Lubricant-Impregnated Surfaces.

Condensation of water from the atmosphere on a solid surface is an ubiquitous phenomenon in nature and has diverse technological applications, e.g. in heat and mass transfer. We investigated the condensation kinetics of water drops on a lubricant-impregnated surface, i.e., a micropillar array impregnated with a non-volatile ionic liquid. Growing and coalescing drops were imaged in 3D using a laser scanning confocal microscope equipped with a temperature and humidity control. Different stages of condensation can be discriminated. On a lubricant-impregnated hydrophobic micropillar array these are: (1) Nucleation on the lubricant surface. (2) Regular alignment of water drops between micropillars and formation of a three-phase contact line on a bottom of the substrate. (3) Deformation and bridging by coalescence which eventually leads to a detachment of the drops from the bottom substrate. The drop-substrate contact does not result in breakdown of the slippery behaviour. Contrary, on a lubricant-impregnated hydrophilic micropillar array, the condensed water drops replace the lubricant. Consequently, the surface loses its slippery property. Our results demonstrate that a Wenzel-like to Cassie transition, required to maintain the facile removal of condensed water drops, can be induced by well-chosen surface hydrophobicity.

How Water Advances on Superhydrophobic Surfaces.

Superliquid repellency can be achieved by nano- and microstructuring surfaces in such a way that protrusions entrap air underneath the liquid. It is still not known how the three-phase contact line advances on such structured surfaces. In contrast to a smooth surface, where the contact line can advance continuously, on a superliquid-repellent surface, the contact line has to overcome an air gap between protrusions. Here, we apply laser scanning confocal microscopy to get the first microscopic videos of water drops advancing on a superhydrophobic array of micropillars. In contrast to common belief, the liquid surface gradually bends down until it touches the top face of the next micropillars. The apparent advancing contact angle is 180°. On the receding side, pinning to the top faces of the micropillars determines the apparent receding contact angle. Based on these observations, we propose that the apparent receding contact angle should be used for characterizing superliquid-repellent surfaces rather than the apparent advancing contact angle and hysteresis.

Cheek Tooth Extraction Via a Minimally Invasive Transbuccal Approach and Intradental Screw Placement in 54 Equids.

OBJECTIVE: To describe (1) preoperative findings and surgical technique, (2) intraoperative difficulties, and (3) postoperative complications and long-term outcome of equine cheek tooth extraction using a minimally invasive transbuccal screw extraction (MITSE) technique. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Fifty-four equids; 50 horses, 3 ponies, and 1 mule. METHODS: Fifty-eight MITSE procedures were performed to extract cheek teeth in 54 equids. Peri- and intraoperative difficulties, as well as short- (<1 month) and long-term (>6 months) postoperative complications were recorded. Followup information was obtained through telephone interviews, making specific inquiries about nasal discharge, facial asymmetry, and findings consistent with surgical site infection. RESULTS: Preoperative findings that prompted exodontia included 50 cheek teeth with apical infections, 48 fractures, 4 neoplasia, 2 displacements, and 1 supernumerary tooth. Previous oral extraction was attempted but had failed in 55/58 (95%) animals because of cheek tooth fracture in 28, or insufficient clinical crown for extraction with forceps in 27. MITSE was successful in removing the entire targeted dental structure in 47/58 (81%) procedures. However, MITSE failed to remove the entire targeted dental structure in 11/58 (19%) procedures and was followed by repulsion in 10/11 (91%). Short-term postoperative complications included bleeding (4/58 procedures, 7%) and transient facial nerve paralysis (4/58 procedures, 7%). Owners were satisfied with the functional and cosmetic outcome for 40/41 (98%) animals with followup. CONCLUSION: MITSE offers an alternate for cheek tooth extraction in equids, where conventional oral extraction is not possible or has failed. Overall, there was low morbidity, which compares favorably with invasive buccotomy or repulsion techniques.

Direct observation of drops on slippery lubricant-infused surfaces.

For a liquid droplet to slide down a solid planar surface, the surface usually has to be tilted above a critical angle of approximately 10°. By contrast, droplets of nearly any liquid "slip" on lubricant-infused textured surfaces - so termed slippery surfaces - when tilted by only a few degrees. The mechanism of how the lubricant alters the static and dynamic properties of the drop remains elusive because the drop-lubricant interface is hidden. Here, we image the shape of drops on lubricant-infused surfaces by laser scanning confocal microscopy. The contact angle of the drop-lubricant interface with the substrate exceeds 140°, although macroscopic contour images suggest angles as low as 60°. Confocal microscopy of moving drops reveals fundamentally different processes at the front and rear. Drops recede via discrete depinning events from surface protrusions at a defined receding contact angle, whereas the advancing contact angle is 180°. Drops slide easily, as the apparent contact angles with the substrate are high and the drop-lubricant interfacial tension is typically lower than the drop-air interfacial tension. Slippery surfaces resemble superhydrophobic surfaces with two main differences: drops on a slippery surface are surrounded by a wetting ridge of adjustable height and the air underneath the drop in the case of a superhydrophobic surface is replaced by lubricant in the case of a slippery surface.

Functional superhydrophobic surfaces made of Janus micropillars.

We demonstrate the fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces consisting of micropillars with hydrophobic sidewalls and hydrophilic tops, referred to as Janus micropillars. Therefore we first coat a micropillar array with a mono- or bilayer of polymeric particles, and merge the particles together to shield the top faces while hydrophobizing the walls. After removing the polymer film, the top faces of the micropillar arrays can be selectively chemically functionalised with hydrophilic groups. The Janus arrays remain superhydrophobic even after functionalisation as verified by laser scanning confocal microscopy. The robustness of the superhydrophobic behaviour proves that the stability of the entrapped air cushion is determined by the forces acting at the rim of the micropillars. This insight should stimulate a new way of designing super liquid-repellent surfaces with tunable liquid adhesion. In particular, combining superhydrophobicity with the functionalisation of the top faces of the protrusions with hydrophilic groups may have exciting new applications, including high-density microarrays for high-throughput screening of bioactive molecules, cells, or enzymes or efficient water condensation. However, so far chemical attachment of hydrophilic molecules has been accompanied with complete wetting of the surface underneath. The fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces where the top faces of the protrusions can be selectively chemically post-functionalised with hydrophilic molecules, while retaining their superhydrophobic properties, is both promising and challenging.

Superamphiphobic particles: how small can we go?

Water and oil repellent coatings--so-called superamphiphobic coatings--greatly reduce the interaction between a liquid and a solid. So far, only flat or weakly curved superhydrophobic and superamphiphobic surfaces have been designed. This raises the question of whether highly curved structures or microspheres are feasible. Therefore, we coated microspheres with a superamphiphobic layer and measured the force between the spheres and a liquid. A qualitatively different dependence of the adhesion force on the applied load for superamphiphobic and smooth spheres is detected. Furthermore, we demonstrate both experimentally and theoretically that superamphiphobicity fails below a critical particle radius, depending on topological details and type of liquid. Therefore, this study sets a fundamental physical limit to the application of superamphiphobic layers for small objects with high curvature.

Computed tomographic and radiographic examination of dental structures in South American camelid specimen of different ages.

BACKGROUND: Tooth root problems and periodontal diseases are common in South American camelids (SAC). The objective was to evaluate and optimize the imaging technique for dental radiography in SAC and to describe the radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) anatomy of normal teeth at different ages. In this study, the heads of 20 healthy SAC slaughtered for meat production or euthanized for reasons not related to dental problems included 7 female and 10 male llamas and 3 male alpacas. Using a standardized protocol, radiographs and CT scans of the 20 specimen were performed. RESULTS: The most useful radiographic projections for mandibular and maxillary cheek teeth evaluation turned out to be lateral30°ventral-laterodorsal and lateral30°dorsal-lateroventral with slight separation of the dental arcades respectively. Digital radiographic and CT appearance of the mandibular and maxillary teeth were described from the beginning of mineralization till maturity. In addition the normal range of the CT radio density of different cheek teeth and different dental tissues were measured. Hounsfield units of different dental tissues of SAC turned out to be similar to equids. Deviation, shortening and partial destruction of the distal tooth root of mandibular 09's and 10's and of maxillary 09's was observed and the existence of a common pulp chamber in younger teeth was revealed. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides information about the dental imaging morphology in clinically healthy SAC. This basic information provides fundamental knowledge for evaluating images and planning treatments in clinically affected animals.

Liquid drops impacting superamphiphobic coatings.

The dynamics of liquid drops impacting superamphiphobic coatings is studied by high-speed video microscopy. Superamphiphobic coatings repel water and oils. The coating consists of a fractal-like hydrophobized silica network. Mixtures of ethanol-water and glycerin-water are chosen to investigate the influence of interfacial tension and viscosity on spreading and retraction dynamics. Drop spreading is dominated by inertia. At low impact velocity, the drops completely rebound. However, the contact time increases with impact velocity, whereas the restitution coefficient decreases. We suggest that the drop temporarily impales the superamphiphobic coating, although the drop completely rebounds. From an estimate of the pressure, it can be concluded that impalement is dominated by depinning rather than sagging. With increasing velocity, the drops partially pin, and an increasing amount of liquid remains on the coating. A time-resolved study of the retraction dynamics reveals two well-separated phases: a fast inertia-dominated phase followed by a slow decrease of the contact diameter of the drop. The crossover occurs when the diameter of the retracting drop matches the diameter of the drop before impact. We suggest that the depth of impalement increases with impact velocity, where impalement is confined to the initial impact zone of the drop. If the drop partially pins on the coating, the depth of impalement exceeds a depth, preventing the whole drop from being removed during the retraction phase.

Dental MRI: imaging of soft and solid components without ionizing radiation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of conventional and ultra-short or zero echo time MRI for imaging of soft and solid dental components in and ex vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Turbo spin echo (TSE), ultra-short echo time (UTE), and zero echo time (ZTE) MRI were performed on extracted (human and equine) teeth and in vivo using whole-body and small-bore MR systems at 3 T, 7T, and 9.4T, respectively. RESULTS: At an isotropic resolution of (600 µm)(3) , strong signal of soft-tissue, e.g., mucosa and nerves with excellent contrast was achieved using TSE at 3T in vivo. No signal, though, was obtained from solid components, e.g., teeth (due to short T(2) ). In contrast, dentin, cementum as well as enamel of extracted teeth were readily depicted using UTE and ZTE at a resolution of ≈ (150 µm)(3) at 7T and 9.4T. In particular, ZTE provided higher signal in enamel. CONCLUSION: As an alternative to X-ray based methods like cone-beam computed tomography (CT) or conventional CT, the presented results demonstrate the potential of ZTE and UTE MRI as a radiation-free imaging modality, delivering contrast of soft and solid components at the same time.