Microchannel and Nanofiber Array Morphology Enhanced Rapid Superspreading on Animals’ Corneas

Abstract

The dynamic spreading phenomenon of liquids is vital for both understanding wetting mechanisms and visual reaction time‐related applications. However, how to control and accelerate the spreading process is still an enormous challenge. Here, a unique microchannel and nanofiber array morphology enhanced rapid superspreading (RSS) effect on animals’ corneas with a superspreading time (ST) of 830 ms is found, and the respective roles of the nanofiber array and the microchannel in the RSS effect are explicitly demonstrated. Specifically, the superspreading is induced by in‐/out‐of‐plane nanocapillary forces among the nanofiber array; the microchannel is responsible for tremendously speeding up the superspreading process. Inspired by the RSS strategy, not only is an RSS surface fabricated with an ST of only 450 ms, which is, respectively, more than 26 and 1.8 times faster than conventional superamphiphilic surfaces and animal's corneas and can be applied as RSS surfaces on video monitors to record clear videos, but also it is demonstrated that the RSS effect has tremendous potential as advanced ophthalmic material surfaces to enhance its biocompatibility for clear vision.

Conductive Materials with Elaborate Micro/Nanostructures for Bioelectronics

“…Electronic contact lens devices have recently been attractive in bioelectronics, broadening the applications from ocular diagnosis to augmented reality. [ 247,248 ] Duan et al. reported a new electronic contact lens device based on commercial contact lenses coated with metal nanofibers and in situ electrochemically deposited PEDOT/PSS as adhesive materials ( Figure a).…”

“…Electronic contact lens devices have recently been attractive in bioelectronics, broadening the applications from ocular diagnosis to augmented reality. [247,248] Duan et al reported a new electronic contact lens device based on commercial contact lenses coated with metal nanofibers and in situ electrochemically deposited PEDOT/PSS as adhesive materials (Figure 21a). [249] The fabricated device was featured with excellent gas permeability, wettability, optical transparency, mechanical compliance and robustness, and a high level of hydration.…”

3D printing of nanowrinkled architectures via laser direct assembly

“…The ubiquitous wrinkle structures in nature endow biological surfaces with enhanced functionalities beyond their three-dimensional (3D) shape features, such as the superior deformability of the cell membrane ( 1 ), the rapid superspreading property of animal corneas ( 2 ), and the increased intellectual capacities allowed by brain gyrification ( 3 ). These natural surface patterns have inspired artificial multiscale structures with distinctive design mentalities and have attracted extensive research attention for various applications, including soft electronics ( 4 , 5 ), smart displays ( 6 , 7 ), surface engineering ( 8 , 9 ), and cell culture ( 10 , 11 ).…”

AlPO4 film with rose surface structure: One‐step coating process, superhydrophilic and rapid super‐spreading

“…In recent years, although extensive progress has been made in bionic preparation of rough surface structures, the existing research results are far from being truly applied. This is because the bionic preparation of rough surface structures usually adopts electrospinning, [12] phase separation, [13] layer by layer self-assembly, [14] template method, [15][16][17] photolithography, [18][19] 3D printing [20][21] and other technologies. [22][23][24][25] These technologies have flexible design advantages in constructing uniform and regular microstructure on the surface.…”