Bolognesi Lab
Monodisperse ultralow interfacial tension oil-in-water droplets displaying thermal-capillary waves at the droplet interface.
Lab Leader:
Dr Guido Bolognesi
Our research focuses on the production and manipulation of functional particles in micron-scale flows and confined micro-environments for the investigation of their fundamental properties and behaviour as well as for the development of new applications in the healthcare, food and energy sectors.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
This study demonstrates through experimental and theoretical analyses that diffusiophoresis and diffusioosmosis enable the continuous separation of carboxylate polystyrene particles with similar sizes and zeta potentials but distinct surface concentrations of carboxyl groups. This is achieved by exploiting the surface conductance effect (a.k.a. electric double layer polarisation) that affects the dependence of the apparent zeta potential of the particles – measured electrophoretically – and the salt concentration of the sourronding medium.
Reference
A. Chakra et al., Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2025, 693,137577.
We reveal a physical mechanism that enables the preconcentration, sorting, and characterization of charged polystyrene nanobeads and liposomes dispersed in a continuous flow within a straight micron-sized channel.Our numerical and experimental analysis shows that a combination of nanoparticle diffusiophoresis, hydrodynamic effects and diffusioosmosis along the top and bottom channel walls are responsible for the observed particles dynamics.
Reference
A. Chakra et al., ACS Nano, 2023, 17, 14644-14657
Ballon microcatheter trans-arterial chemoembolization (bTACE) is the treatment of choice for early and intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma. We developed a numerical model to interpret the in vivo observations of drug distribution during bTACE procedures. The model can describe both the blood flow distribution as well as the transport and accumulation of blood additives in hepatic arteries. FBy comparing the in-vivo measurements and simulation data, we could assess the extent of the in vivo redistribution of the flow towards the tumour regions. This work was carried out in collaboration with clinical researchers of Sapienza University of Rome.
Reference
P. Lucatelli et al., La radiologia medica, 2025. 129, 23-833.
We discovered a new physical mechanism whereby steady state salt gradients are exploited to trap, accumulate and release colloidal particles within the dead-end cavities of microstructured silicon surfaces. These findings will open new avenues of research on soft matter as well as chemical and biological systems, where solute concentration gradients and flows in confined geometries are ubiquitous.
Reference
N. Singh et al. Phys. Rev. Lett., 2020, 125, 248002.
