Fig. 1: The teapot effect inspired the tap-triggered self-wetting strategy-based 3D cell sieving method.

a The teapot effect and its physical model. b The tap-triggered self-wetting strategy-based 3D sieving method. c The tap-trigger microstructure drew liquid out from the underside of the inclined membrane. d The passed liquid flowed along the membrane to self-wet more of the membrane area, drawing more liquid flow through micropores in a positive feedback loop