The spontaneous assembly of chemically encoded, molecularly crowded, water-rich micro-droplets into periodic defect-free two-dimensional arrays is achieved in aqueous media by a combination of an acoustic standing wave pressure field and in situ complex coacervation. Acoustically mediated coalescence of primary droplets generates single-droplet per node micro-arrays that exhibit variable surface-attachment properties, spontaneously uptake dyes, enzymes and particles, and display spatial and time-dependent fluorescence outputs when exposed to a reactant diffusion gradient. In addition, coacervate droplet arrays exhibiting dynamical behaviour and exchange of matter are prepared by inhibiting coalescence to produce acoustically trapped lattices of droplet clusters that display fast and reversible changes in shape and spatial configuration in direct response to modulations in the acoustic frequencies and fields. Our results offer a novel route to the design and construction of 'water-in-water' micro-droplet arrays with controllable spatial organization, programmable signalling pathways and higher order collective behaviour.

中文翻译：

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化学编码的二维凝聚层液滴阵列通过声波图案的自发组装。

通过声驻波压力场和原位复杂凝聚的结合，在水性介质中实现了化学编码，分子拥挤，富水的微滴自发组装成周期性的无缺陷二维阵列。通过声学介导的初级液滴聚结产生单液滴每节点微阵列，该阵列显示出可变的表面附着特性，自发吸收染料，酶和颗粒，并在暴露于反应物扩散梯度时显示出空间和时间相关的荧光输出。此外，通过抑制聚结来产生液滴簇的声学陷获晶格，从而制备出表现出动力学行为和物质交换的凝聚液滴阵列，这些液滴簇在声学和频率场的调制中直接响应，从而在形状和空间构型上表现出快速且可逆的变化。我们的结果为“水包水”微滴阵列的设计和构建提供了一条新颖的途径，该阵列具有可控的空间组织，可编程的信号通路和更高阶的集体行为。