Fundamentals of Immobilized Liquid Layers

Understanding the basic physics and chemistry behind immobilized liquid layer is essential to ultimately understanding how they will interact with biological systems. Using a combination of spectroscopic , chromatographic, and visualization techniques, we work to understand how relevant perturbations affect the integrity and functioning of these materials. We also examine how these fundamentals can be applied to create a novel approach to antifouling.

For more information, check out these reviews:

Regan D, Howell C.(2019) Droplet manipulation with bioinspired liquid-infused surfaces: a review of recent progress and potential for integrated detection. Invited review in Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science: Special issue on Outstanding Young Researchers, 39, 137-147.

Howell C, Grinthal A, Sunny S, Aizenberg M, Aizenberg J. (2018) Designing liquid-infused surfaces for medical applications: a review. Invited review in Advanced Materials, 1802724. DOI:10.1002/adma.201802724

Sotiri I, Overton J, Waterhouse A, Howell C* (2016) Immobilized liquid layers: a new approach to anti-adhesion surfaces for medical applications. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 241, 909-918.

And these publications:

Sotiri I, Tajik A, Ledoux H, Lai Y, Kovalenko Y, Nemr C, Alvarenga J, Patanwala H, Timonen JVI, Hu Y, Aizenberg J, Howell C (2018) Tunability of Infused Siloxane Polymers as Immobilized Liquid Layer Substrates. Invited contribution in the Special Issue “Women in Biointerfaces”, Biointerphases, 13, 06D401.

Chen J, Howell C, Haller C, Ayala P, Moravec K, Dai E, Liu L, Sotiri I, Aizenberg M, Aizenberg J. and Chaikof, E. (2017) An Immobilized Liquid Interface Prevents Device Associated Bacterial Infection In Vivo. Biomaterials, 113, 80-92.

Howell C, Vu T, Johnson C, Hou X, Ahanotu O, Alvarenga J, Leslie D, Uzun O, Waterhouse A, Kim P, Super M, Aizenberg M, Ingber D, Aizenberg J (2015) Stability of Surface-Immobilized Lubricant Interfaces Under Flow. Chemistry of Materials, 27, 1792-1800.

Group members working on this topic:

Junie Fong