Systems including janus droplets

Abstract

Embodiments described herein may be useful in the detection of analytes. The systems and methods may allow for a relatively simple and rapid way for detecting analytes such as chemical and/or biological analytes and may be useful in numerous applications including sensing, food manufacturing, medical diagnostics, performance materials, dynamic lenses, water monitoring, environmental monitoring, detection of proteins, detection of DNA, among other applications. For example, the systems and methods described herein may be used for determining the presence of a contaminant such as bacteria (e.g., detecting pathogenic bacteria in food and water samples which helps to prevent widespread infection, illness, and even death). Advantageously, the systems and methods described herein may not have the drawbacks in current detection technologies including, for example, relatively high costs, long enrichment steps and analysis times, and/or the need for extensive user training. Another advantageous feature provided by the systems and methods described herein includes fabrication in a relatively large scale. In some embodiments, the systems and methods may be used in conjunction with a detector including handheld detectors incorporated with, for example, smartphones (e.g., for the on-site detection of analytes such as pathogenic bacteria).

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of Janus droplets associated with a plurality of binding moieties to a virus; and   a detector positioned relative to the plurality of Janus droplets such that when sufficient numbers of the binding moieties bind to the virus at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets are changed in orientation sufficient to change electromagnetic radiation interacting with the Janus droplets in a manner determinable by the detector.   
     
     
         42 . A method for determining the presence of a virus, comprising:
 exposing, to an article comprising an outer phase and a plurality of Janus droplets dispersed within the outer phase, a sample suspected of containing the virus, wherein the virus, if present, interacts with at least a portion of the article such that at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets change orientation thereby producing a detectable change in an optical property of the article; and   determining the detectable change.   
     
     
         43 . A system as in claim  40 , wherein each Janus droplet comprises a first phase and a second phase, immiscible with the first phase. 
     
     
         44 . A system as in claim  40 , wherein the outer phase is an aqueous phase. 
     
     
         45 . A system as in claim  40 , wherein the first phase comprises a hydrocarbon, a fluorocarbon, a silicone, a liquid crystal, an ionic liquid, a polymer, combinations thereof, or derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         46 . A system as in claim  40 , wherein the second phase comprises a hydrocarbon, a fluorocarbon, a silicone, a liquid crystal, an ionic liquid, a polymer, combinations thereof, or derivatives thereof, immiscible with the first phase. 
     
     
         47 . A system as in claim  40 , wherein the amphiphilic compound is selected from the group consisting of: ionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, polymers, block copolymers, proteins, DNA, RNA, acids, carbohydrates, saccharides, enzymes, chromophores, lipids, graphene oxide, combinations thereof, nanoparticles, and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         48 . A system as in claim  40 , wherein an interface between the outer phase and the plurality of Janus droplets comprises the amphiphilic compound. 
     
     
         49 . A system as in claim  40 , wherein upon binding to the binding moieties, at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets agglutinate. 
     
     
         50 . A system as in claim  40 , wherein, prior to binding to the binding moieties, the plurality of Janus droplets are oriented such that at least a portion of interfaces between a first phase and a second phase within each Janus droplet are aligned parallel with respect to one another.