Fig. 4: Long-term stability of multi-compartmental coacervates.
From: Organelle-like structural evolution of coacervate droplets induced by photopolymerization
a CLSM images of multi-compartmental coacervates undergoing five cycles of centrifugation at 300 × g for 1 min. The insets are photographs of centrifugation and redispersion of multi-compartmental coacervates. b CLSM images of restricted phase reconfiguration inside multi-compartmental coacervates by centrifugation at 2600 × g for 3 min, showing regional sequestration of coacervates for calcein and rhodamine B. The multi-compartmental coacervates in (a, b) are obtained by 405 nm illumination for 2.5 h. c Contour images of the HA/PDDA/BSA droplet or the multi-compartmental coacervate droplet (5 h) contacting the corresponding substrate, showing that the droplet will fracture from the substrate. d Drop adhesion force (DAF)/contact angle (θ) between HA/PDDA/BSA droplets or multi-compartmental coacervate droplets with the corresponding substrate, obtained by calculating the contour of the droplet contacting the surface and then breaking from the surface. e Contact angle between HA/PDDA/BSA droplets or multi-compartmental coacervate droplets onto the corresponding substrate surface. The multi-compartmental coacervates in (c-e) are obtained by 405 nm illumination for 5 h. The substrate was prepared by depositing the same solution onto a glass slide and drying naturally. f Zeta potential of DMAEMA and PDMAEMA in H2O at 25 ⁰C. Data are presented as mean ± s.d. (n = 3). g Electrostatic potential (ESP) mapped van der Waals surface of DMAEMA. Electrostatic potential mapped van der Waals surface of PDMAEMA with ESP minima (h) and maxima distribution (i). The cyan/orange points represent ESP minima/maxima, respectively. Blue and orange dashed boxes represent the large minima and maxima, respectively. j Proposed formation process of stable multi-compartmental coacervates. Scale bars, 5 μm. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
