Preparation of Janus Droplets and Hydrogels with Controllable Morphologies by an Aqueous Two-Phase System on the Superamphiphobic Surface

Janus particles, having the property integration of each component, have attracted increasing attention due to their considerable potential in the field of material engineering applications. However, organic solvents or sophisticated equip-ment during the fabrication processes is generally inevitable. Here, we report a facile route to prepare Janus droplets and hydrogels via aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). Simply merging two polymers, i.e., polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran (DEX), aqueous droplets on a superamphiphobic surface leads to phase separation, provided that their concentrations exceed the threshold in the mixed aqueous droplets, thus generating a Janus structure. Various morphologies of such Janus droplets can be well controlled by manipulating the locations of these two polymers' concentration on the phase diagram, and the evolution of the mixed droplets are deterministic on the basis of the kinetics of their phase separation and the degree of hydrophobicity of the substrate. Introducing monomers and/or nanoparticles, further, into a certain phase of the ATPS droplet followed by photopolymerizing enables Janus hydrogel particles with diverse functionalities to be obtained. The ease and green techniques with which the Janus balance and curvature between two phases of the Janus droplet can be finely tuned point to new directions in designing Janus particles and hold great promises in biological engineering.

Automated summary

This study reports a facile route to prepare Janus droplets and hydrogels via aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). The Janus droplets with different morphologies can be well controlled by manipulating the concentrations of polymers on the phase diagram. The introduction of monomers and/or nanoparticles in ATPS droplets followed by photopolymerization enables the synthesis of Janus hydrogel particles with diverse functionalities.