Tuning the viscosity of a fluid using light.
Research of Aimee Ketner and Rakesh Kumar.

Is it possible to switch a fluid from a thick jelly-like state to a thin water-like solution by shining light? And moreover, can such a fluid be made using simple, cheap chemicals? We show that this can be done in our our JACS (2007) paper, where the "recipe" for the fluid depicted in this movie is given. In the movie, our photoresponsive fluid is shown to be initially very viscous, but it becomes very thin and pourable upon UV irradiation.

Targeting of magnetic capsules from a flowing fluid.
Research of Jae-Ho Lee and Matt Dowling.

We have developed biopolymer capsules with embedded magnetic nano-particles for use in targeted drug delivery. Here, the ability to target these capsules to a given location from a flowing fluid is demonstrated with large capsules (~ mm size). The capsules are flowing in water from left to right when they are arrested and directed by a magnet..

Color subtraction using gels.
Research of Bani Cipriano and Peter Thomas.

We know that a dark blue dye + a yellow dye together make a solution dark green as shown in the vial on the left. Recently, we have been experimenting with a type of gel that has a strong affinity for certain dyes - in this case, the blue one. When a piece of this colorless gel is immersed in the vial on the left, the gel selectively adsorbs the blue dye, leaving behind a solution of the yellow dye. Such gels could be useful in separations.

Polymer capsule with hierarchical structure.
Research of Matt Dowling and Chao Zhu.

The image on the left looks like the head of an alien from outer space, but it is much more mundane and practical. This is a large polymer capsule that, in turn, encapsulates two smaller containers. The smaller containers, in turn, hold even smaller (nanosized) containers. We are interested in such multiscale capsules for drug delivery.