The coating allows for certain liquids to move across surfaces without fluid loss. (Credit: University of Toronto)

A newly developed coating that allows for certain liquids to move across surfaces without fluid loss could usher in new advances in medical testing. The new coating was inspired by the natural world.

The innovation has important implications for microfluidics. The new coating enables low surface tension liquids to be transported over distances of over 150 mm without losing any of the liquid, about 15 times longer than currently possible.

The technology uses two newly developed polymer coatings, one of which is more liquid repellent than the other. Both are composed of liquid-like polymer brushes. The more repellent coating acts as a background, surrounding the less repellent coating and creating tiny channels along the surface. The channels allow for the liquids to move in a desired pattern or direction without losing any of the liquid during transport or requiring additional energy input.

The ability to transport low surface tension liquids without loss will allow for advancements in lab-on-a-chip devices.

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