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 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of Janus droplets associated with binding moieties to an analyte, the binding moiety and analyte selected such that when the analyte binds to the binding moiety at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets are changed in orientation sufficient to change electromagnetic radiation interacting with the plurality of Janus droplets in a detectable manner.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein upon binding to the binding moieties, at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets agglutinate. 
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein, prior to the analyte binding to the binding moieties, the plurality of Janus droplets are bound to a surface. 
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 5 , wherein, upon binding of the analyte to the binding moieties, at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets unbind from the surface. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method for determining an analyte, comprising:
 exposing, to an article comprising an outer phase and a plurality of Janus droplets dispersed within the outer phase, a chemical or biological analyte, wherein the chemical or biological analyte, 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.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of Janus droplets comprises one or more amphiphilic compounds including at least one binding moiety. 
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein interacting with at least a portion of the article comprises binding of the chemical or biological analyte to the at least one binding moiety. 
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein, prior to exposing the article to a chemical or biological analyte, at least a portion of 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. 
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein substantially all of the interfaces between a first phase and a second phase within each Janus droplet are aligned parallel with respect to one another. 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein, upon exposing the article to a chemical or biological analyte, at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets agglutinate. 
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein, upon exposing the article to a chemical or biological analyte, at least a portion of 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 not aligned parallel with respect to one another. 
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets are bound to a surface of the article via the binding moiety. 
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 16 , wherein, upon exposing the article to a chemical or biological analyte, at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets unbind from the surface. 
     
     
         18 . An article, comprising:
 an outer phase; and   a plurality of Janus droplets dispersed within the outer phase,   wherein at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets comprise an amphiphilic compound including at least one binding moiety.   
     
     
         19 . An article as in  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of Janus droplets is 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. 
     
     
         20 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . An article, comprising:
 a surface;   an outer phase deposited on at least a portion of the surface; and   a plurality of Janus droplets dispersed within the outer phase,   wherein at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets comprise an amphiphilic compound including at least one binding moiety, and   wherein at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets are bound to the surface via the binding moiety.   
     
     
         25 . An article as in  claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of Janus droplets are oriented such that an interface between a first phase and a second phase within each Janus droplet are not aligned parallel to the surface. 
     
     
         26 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A system, comprising:
 an article as in  claim 18 ;   a source of external energy applicable to the composition to generate a determinable signal; and   a detector positioned to detect the signal.   
     
     
         31 - 40 . (canceled)