Abstract
Miniaturized droplets, characterized by well-controlled microenvironments and capability for parallel processing, have significantly advanced the studies on enzymatic evolution, molecular diagnostics, and single-cell analysis. However, manipulation of small-sized droplets, including moving, merging, and trapping of the targeted droplets for complex biochemical assays and subsequent analysis, is not trivial and remains technically demanding. Among various techniques, light-driven methods stand out as a promising candidate for droplet manipulation in a facile and flexible manner, given the features of contactless interaction, high spatiotemporal resolution, and biocompatibility. This review therefore compiles an in-depth discussion of the governing mechanisms underpinning light-driven droplet manipulation. Besides, light-responsive materials, representing the core of light–matter interaction and the key character converting light into different forms of energy, are particularly assessed in this review. Recent advancements in light-responsive materials and the most notable applications are comprehensively archived and evaluated. Continuous innovations and rational engineering of light-responsive materials are expected to propel the development of light-driven droplet manipulation, equip droplets with enhanced functionality, and broaden the applications of droplets for biochemical studies and routine biochemical investigations. © 2024 The Authors. Advanced Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 2313935 |
| Journal | Advanced Materials |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Online published | 21 Feb 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Jan 2025 |
Funding
The authors thank Kei Yan YEUNG for the illustrations of Figures 1 and 2, which are created in part with BioRender.com. The authors would like to acknowledge the support provided by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project Nos. CUHK 14204820, 14207121, and 14219922), Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Fund (ITS/217/21), the VC Discretionary Fund provided by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Project No. 8601014), and the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) Seed Collaborative Research Fund (Project No. SKLMP/SCRF/0042) provided by the City University of Hong Kong.
Research Keywords
- droplet
- light-driven droplet manipulation
- light-responsive materials
Publisher's Copyright Statement
- This full text is made available under CC-BY-NC 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
RGC Funding Information
- RGC-funded