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Shock-induced dynamics of doped-drops encapsulated in bubbles for drug delivery applications
Drops encapsulated in bubbles could be used for drugs delivery, but their complex dynamics under an external solicitation is not well understood. Appropriated experimental and numerical investigations are required to apprehend the physical mechanisms that eventually result in the drugs dispersion.
The incorporation of therapeutic agents into microbubbles’ shell is a clinical modality enabling the controlled transport of drugs in a target site within the human body. However, the addition of such a shell to a microbubble impedes its dynamics and more specifically, complicates the shell disruption and thereby the drug release. An alternative technique would consist of incorporating drugs inside a droplet encapsulated in a bubble. While efficient encapsulation procedures exist (Figure 1), our comprehension of the bubble-droplet system dynamics and the efficiency of the drug release remains significantly elusive.
In this project, it is expected to set-up an experimental facility to generate bubbles embedded within droplets and to expose such bubbles to shock waves (and possibly acoustic driving). The dynamics of the bubble-droplet system (oscillations, collapse, jetting, etc.) will be investigated by means of high-speed imaging. More specifically, the release and the droplet dispersion would be recorded using fluorescent-based imaging by doping the droplet with a fluorescent tracer. Experimental observations would be completed with numerical simulations using an existing open-source code (for which no development is required). Substantial knowledge is expected to be produced on (i) the effect of the droplet on the enclosing bubble dynamics, (ii) the bubble interaction with the droplet during the oscillation, collapse and jetting stages, and (iii) the drug release and dispersion in the bulk liquid initially surrounding the bubble.
The incorporation of therapeutic agents into microbubbles’ shell is a clinical modality enabling the controlled transport of drugs in a target site within the human body. However, the addition of such a shell to a microbubble impedes its dynamics and more specifically, complicates the shell disruption and thereby the drug release. An alternative technique would consist of incorporating drugs inside a droplet encapsulated in a bubble. While efficient encapsulation procedures exist (Figure 1), our comprehension of the bubble-droplet system dynamics and the efficiency of the drug release remains significantly elusive.
In this project, it is expected to set-up an experimental facility to generate bubbles embedded within droplets and to expose such bubbles to shock waves (and possibly acoustic driving). The dynamics of the bubble-droplet system (oscillations, collapse, jetting, etc.) will be investigated by means of high-speed imaging. More specifically, the release and the droplet dispersion would be recorded using fluorescent-based imaging by doping the droplet with a fluorescent tracer. Experimental observations would be completed with numerical simulations using an existing open-source code (for which no development is required). Substantial knowledge is expected to be produced on (i) the effect of the droplet on the enclosing bubble dynamics, (ii) the bubble interaction with the droplet during the oscillation, collapse and jetting stages, and (iii) the drug release and dispersion in the bulk liquid initially surrounding the bubble.
The following tasks are to be completed:
1. Literature review: learn about the topic (background, encapsulation procedures, open questions, etc.)
2. Design and set-up the experimental facility for the encapsulation of the droplet within bubble
3. Familiarize and operate time-resolved optical diagnostics and fluorescent-based imaging
4. Compute numerical simulation(s) with an open-source hydrodynamics numerical code
5. Validate simulation(s) with the corresponding experiments
6. Discuss the dynamics of the encapsulating bubble (and compare with the dynamics of a simple bubble)
7. Examine the interaction of the oscillating, collapsing and jet bubble with the embedded droplet
8. Evaluate the drug dispersion efficiency (e.g., by tracking the fluorescent tracer in the bulk liquid)
9. Write a report, create a poster and present your work
The following tasks are to be completed:
1. Literature review: learn about the topic (background, encapsulation procedures, open questions, etc.)
2. Design and set-up the experimental facility for the encapsulation of the droplet within bubble
3. Familiarize and operate time-resolved optical diagnostics and fluorescent-based imaging
4. Compute numerical simulation(s) with an open-source hydrodynamics numerical code
5. Validate simulation(s) with the corresponding experiments
6. Discuss the dynamics of the encapsulating bubble (and compare with the dynamics of a simple bubble)
7. Examine the interaction of the oscillating, collapsing and jet bubble with the embedded droplet
8. Evaluate the drug dispersion efficiency (e.g., by tracking the fluorescent tracer in the bulk liquid)
9. Write a report, create a poster and present your work
Interested candidates please send an email with a recent transcript of records to lbiasiori@ethz.ch.
Interested candidates please send an email with a recent transcript of records to lbiasiori@ethz.ch.