(40e) Some Tools in the Microfluidic Toolbox: (I) Colloidal Shells and (II) a High-Speed Differential Manometer for the Cellular Scale

The ability to transport and manipulate fluids on the scale of hundreds of microns and smaller has triggered a wide range of scientific investigations and technological applications. Microfluidic devices allow handling of small fluid volumes, fast response times, selective addressing of the cellular scale, and they allow for sensing and flow control. Here we provide two examples of our work in this area. First, we describe the formation of colloidal shells consisting of a monolayer or particles on drops and bubbles. We consider some of the mechanical properties of these shells. Also, we use numerical simulations to understand the long-term stability of particle-covered gas bubbles. Second, we describe our recent efforts to characterize the mechanical response of cells during continuous flow in microchannels comparable to the cell size, including measuring the extra pressure drop produced by a single cell.