arXiv subjects

Rafael Delgado Buscalioni

Publications and source records attributed to Rafael Delgado Buscalioni.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Three-dimensional Optical Reconstruction of colloidal electrokinetics via multiplane imaging

Sorting, filtering, moving and controlling colloidal particles is crucial in many fields, ranging from chemistry to biology and physics. Dielectrophoresis is an outstanding tool for the manipulation of small particles by AC electric fields, due to its high selectivity and the absence of the need for labels. We use a new theoretical-experimental approach to study the dynamics of fluorescently labeled polystyrene nanoparticles of 200 nm under positive and negative dielectrophoresis conditions. Our multiplane widefield microscopy technique combined with single particle tracking offers real-time ($>$ 100 fps) superresolved visualization of colloidal dynamics in three spatial dimensions. This real-time 3D imaging technique allows the reconstruction of superresolved trajectories, enabling the visualisation of local forces with unprecedented detail. To interpret this data, a dedicated multiscale modeling approach was developed, targeting a direct comparison between theory and experiment. In the current model DEP and electro-osmotic forces were considered. Under positive DEP conditions, this resulted in a very good agreement with experiment. Under negative DEP conditions, the agreement is less clear, indicating the importance of other effects. This illustrates the potential of this combined 3D imaging and modeling approach to validate and refine our theoretical understanding of AC field induced colloidal dynamics. This framework is broadly applicable to other complex fluid or microfluidic motion.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2020

Quantitative reintepretation of quartz-crystal-microbalance experiments with adsorbed particles using analytical hydrodynamics

Despite being a fundamental tool in soft matter research, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) analyses of discrete macromolecules in liquid so far lack a firm theoretical basis. Currently, acoustic signals are qualitatively interpreted using ad-hoc frameworks based on effective electrical circuits, effective springs and trapped-solvent models with abundant fitting parameters. Nevertheless, due to its extreme sensitivity, the QCM technique pledges to become an accurate predictive tool. Using unsteady low Reynolds hydrodynamics we derive analytical expressions for the acoustic impedance of adsorbed discrete spheres. Our theory is successfully validated against 3D simulations and a plethora of experimental results covering more than a decade of research on proteins, viruses, liposomes, massive nanoparticles, with sizes ranging from few to hundreds of nanometers. The excellent agreement without fitting constants clearly indicates that the acoustic response is dominated by the hydrodynamic impedance, thus, deciphering the secondary contribution of physico-chemical forces will first require a hydrodynamic-reinterpretation of QCM.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2020

Hydrodynamics of quartz crystal microbalance experiments with liposome-DNA complexes

The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is widely used to study surface adsorbed molecules, often of biological significance. However, the relation between raw acoustic response (frequency shift $Δf$ and dissipation factor $ΔD$) and mechanical properties of the macromolecules still needs to be deciphered, particularly in the case of suspended discrete particles. We study the QCM response of suspended liposomes tethered to the resonator wall by double stranded DNA, with the other end attached to surface-adsorbed neutravidin through a biotin linker. Liposome radius and dsDNA contour length are comparable to the wave penetration depth ($δ\sim 100\ \mathrm{nm}$). Simulations, based on the immersed boundary method and an elastic network model for the liposome-DNA complex, are in good agreement with experimental results for POPC liposomes. We find that the added stress at the resonator surface, i.e. the impedance Z sensed by QCM, is dominated by the flow-induced liposome surface-stress, which propagates towards the resonator by viscous forces. QCM signals are extremely sensitive to the liposome's height distribution P(y) which depends on the actual number and mechanical properties of the tethers, in addition to the usual local attractive/repulsive chemical forces. Our approach helps in deciphering the role of hydrodynamics in acoustic sensing and revealing the role of parameters hitherto largely unexplored. A practical consequence would be the design of improved biosensors and detection schemes.

cond-mat.soft↗