Optical tweezers are experimental tools with extraordinary resolution in positioning (± 1 nm) a micron-sized colloid and in the measurement of forces (± 50 fN) acting on it-without any mechanical contact. This enables one to carry out a multitude of novel experiments in nano- and microfluidics, of which the following will be presented in this review: (i) forces within single pairs of colloids i...

Janus colloids have inspired growing interests due to their diverse potential applications. Herein, we present a facile approach to fabricate Janus submicron sized colloids by the selective etching of anisotropic colloids. Size ratio, microstructure and composition are tunable. The method can be scaled up, which is the key to further exploit practical applications.

We introduce a representative minimal model for phoretically interacting active colloids. Combining kinetic theory, linear stability analyses, and a general relation between self-propulsion and phoretic interactions in autodiffusiophoretic and autothermophoretic Janus colloids collapses the parameter space from six to two dimensionless parameters: area fraction and Péclet number. This collapse ...

Synthesis of novel 225Ac-Sn particles was described for the first time. Detailed experimental and stability studies were successfully exhibited. Treatment excess amount SnCl2 with 0.2 mCi 225Ac furnished highly stable tin colloid 90% radiochemical yield (RCY) at optimized reaction condition. R-TLC analyses indicated 95% purity (RCP). Stability showed that colloidal structure also retained free ...

Highly compacted bentonite buffers are planned to be used as engineered barriers in the near-field of nuclear waste repositories in crystalline formations. The erosion of these bentonite buffers at the boundary to the surrounding Excavation Disturbed Zone (EDZ) can be a source of colloids leading to a notable concentration of colloids in the EDZ water, which is high above the natural colloid co...

The contribution of acid–base (AB) (polar) interactions to the total interaction energy between membranes and colloids was investigated. The surface energetics of several membranes and colloids were evaluated using the Lifshitz–van der Waals acid-base approach. This provides the van der Waals (LW) and polar interaction energies between various surfaces from measurements of contact angles of dif...

DNA-coated colloids hold great promise for self-assembly of programmed heterogeneous microstructures, provided they not only bind when cooled below their melting temperature, but also rearrange so that aggregated particles can anneal into the structure that minimizes the free energy. Unfortunately, DNA-coated colloids generally collide and stick forming kinetically arrested random aggregates wh...

The war between colloids and crystalloids wages on. In a large multinational survey of fluid prescribing practices in critically ill patients, we have a new and intriguing snapshot of global fluid resuscitation practices. Colloids are more often used for impaired perfusion or low cardiac output, and the choice of colloid or crystalloid varies enormously between countries. Why are some ICUs pres...

This review discusses the recent progress that has been made in the application of computer simulations to study crystal nucleation in colloidal systems. We discuss the concept and the numerical methods that allow for a quantitative prediction of crystal-nucleation rates. The computed nucleation rates are predicted from first principles and can be directly compared with experiments. These techn...

Key questions remain unresolved regarding the advantages and limitations of colloids for fluid resuscitation despite extensive investigation. Elucidation of these questions has been slowed, in part, by uncertainty as to the optimal endpoints that should be monitored in assessing patient response to administered fluid. Colloids and crystalloids do not appear to differ notably in their effects on...