Amplification of Supersonic Microjets by Resonant Inertial Cavitation-Bubble Pair.

We reveal for the first time by experiments that within a narrow parameter regime, two cavitation bubbles with identical energy generated in antiphase develop a supersonic jet. High-resolution numerical simulation shows a mechanism for jet amplification based on toroidal shock wave and bubble necking interaction. The microjet reaches velocities in excess of 1000 m s^{-1}. We demonstrate that potential flow theory established for Worthington jets accurately predicts the evolution of the bubble gas-liquid interfaces unifying compressible and incompressible jet amplification.

Shear wave generation from non-spherical bubble collapse in a tissue phantom.

Elastography is a non-invasive technique to detect tissue anomalies via the local elastic modulus using shear waves. Commonly shear waves are produced via acoustic focusing or the use of mechanical external sources, shear waves may result also naturally from cavitation bubbles during medical intervention, for example from thermal ablation. Here, we measure the shear wave emitted from a well-controlled single laser-induced cavitation bubble oscillating near a rigid boundary. The bubbles are generated in a transparent tissue-mimicking hydrogel embedded with tracer particles. High-speed imaging of the tracer particles and the bubble shape allow quantifying the shear wave and relate it to the bubble dynamics. It is found that different stages of the bubble dynamics contribute to the shear wave generation and the mechanism of shear wave emission, its direction and the efficiency of energy converted into the shear wave depend crucially on the bubble to wall stand-off distance.

Multi-frame multi-exposure shock wave imaging and pressure measurements.

Shock wave visual detection was traditionally performed using streak cameras, limited to homogeneous shock wave emission, with the corresponding shock wave pressure measurements available at rather large distances or numerically estimated through equation of state for water. We demonstrate a multi-frame multi-exposure shock wave velocity measurement technique for all in-plane directions of propagation, based on custom-built illumination system allowing multiple illumination pulses within each frame at multi-MHz frame rates and at up to 200 MHz illumination pulse repetition frequency at sub-nanosecond pulse durations. The measurements are combined and verified using a fiber-optic probe hydrophone, providing independent shock wave pressure and time-of-flight measurements, creating a novel all-optical measurement setup. The measured pressures at distances around 100 µm from the plasma center exceed 500 MPa, while camera-based measurements at even shorter distances indicate pressures above 1 GPa.

Optic generation and perpetuation of acoustic bubble clusters.

Laser-induced cavitation bubbles offer precise control of the flow in space and time, but they are rarely used for the mechanical and chemical processing of liquids. Instead, strong acoustic fields are commonly used to nucleate and drive cavitation bubbles for liquid process applications. While acoustic field creates many more cavitation events, the resulting chaotic dynamics offers little control on the fluid mechanics, i.e., where and how bubbles deliver their energy. Here we present a method that utilizes a laser to nucleate a single cavitation bubble, which is then driven into violent oscillations by the ultrasound field, resulting in splitting of the bubble followed by formation of a cluster of cavitation bubbles. This combination offers means for cavitation control not available in conventional acoustic cavitation. Here, the cavitation bubble is generated with a custom build pulsed laser that is focused below a sonotrode driven at 20 kHz. In absence of the acoustic driving the bubble reaches a maximum diameter of 130 µm with a lifetime of approximately 10 µs. In the presence of the acoustic field the first few expansions and bubble collapses are strongly affected by the phase of nucleation. Over successive acoustic cycles a small bubble cluster develops that loses its connection with the phase of generation. We study the dynamics in the free field and constrained by a rigid boundary. For both geometries the cluster over many acoustic cycles dies off, yet through repetitive optical bubble seeding the cluster lifetime and its location can be controlled.

In situ measurement of cavitation damage from single bubble collapse using high-speed chronoamperometry.

We quantitatively study cavitation damage non-invasively, in-place and time-resolved at microsecond resolution. A single, laser-induced bubble is generated in an aqueous NaCl solution close to the surface of an aluminum sample. High-speed chronoamperometry is used to record the corrosion current flowing between the sample and an identical aluminum electrode immersed in the same solution. This configuration makes it possible to measure the cavitation damage in the nanometer thin passive layer of the aluminum surface via the corrosion current from the repassivation. Synchronously with the corrosion current, the bubble dynamics is recorded via high-speed imaging. Correlation between the two measurements allows contributing cavitation damage to the respective stages of the bubble dynamics. The largest cavitation-induced currents were observed for the smallest initial bubble-to-surface stand-off distances. As the bubble re-expands and collapses again in several stages, further current peaks were detected implying a sequence of smaller damage. At intermediate stand-offs the bubble was not damaging and at large stand-off distances, the bubble was only damaging during the second collapse which again occurs at the solid surface.

Integrated biophysical matching of bacterial nanocellulose coronary artery bypass grafts towards bioinspired artery typical functions.

Revascularization via coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to treat cardiovascular disease is established as one of the most important lifesaving surgical techniques worldwide. But the shortage in functionally self-adaptive autologous arteries leads to circumstances where the clinical reality must deal with fighting pathologies coming from the mismatching biophysical functionality of more available venous grafts. Synthetic biomaterial-based CABG grafts did not make it to the market yet, what is mostly due to technical hurdles in matching biophysical properties to the complex demands of the CABG niche. But bacterial Nanocellulose (BNC) Hydrogels derived by growing biofilms hold a naturally integrative character in function-giving properties by its freedom in designing form and intrinsic fiber architecture. In this study we use this integral to combine impacts on the luminal fiber matrix, biomechanical properties and the reciprocal stimulation of microtopography and induced flow patterns, to investigate biomimetic and artificial designs on their bio-functional effects. Therefore, we produced tubular BNC-hydrogels at distinctive designs, characterized the structural and biomechanical properties and subjected them to in vitro endothelial colonization in bioreactor assisted perfusion cultivation. Results showed clearly improved functional properties and gave an indication of successfully realized stimulation by artery-typical helical flow patterns.

Cavitation erosion by shockwave self-focusing of a single bubble.

The ability of cavitation bubbles to effectively focus energy is made responsible for cavitation erosion, traumatic brain injury, and even for catalyse chemical reactions. Yet, the mechanism through which material is eroded remains vague, and the extremely fast and localized dynamics that lead to material damage has not been resolved. Here, we reveal the decisive mechanism that leads to energy focusing during the non-spherical collapse of cavitation bubbles and eventually results to the erosion of hardened metals. We show that a single cavitation bubble at ambient pressure close to a metal surface causes erosion only if a non-axisymmetric energy self-focusing is at play. The bubble during its collapse emits shockwaves that under certain conditions converge to a single point where the remaining gas phase is driven to a shockwave-intensified collapse. We resolve the conditions under which this self-focusing enhances the collapse and damages the solid. High-speed imaging of bubble and shock wave dynamics at sub-picosecond exposure times is correlated to the shockwaves recorded with large bandwidth hydrophones. The material damage from several metallic materials is detected in situ and quantified ex-situ via scanning electron microscopy and confocal profilometry. With this knowledge, approaches to mitigate cavitation erosion or to even enhance the energy focusing are within reach.

Quantitation of major protein constituents of murine intestinal fluid.

The gastrointestinal tract is a hostile biological environment, yet not all ingested materials are destroyed. The minute differences that determine whether a substance persists or is digested, liberated, adsorbed, excreted, or taken up are still poorly understood. Most attempts to investigate the events occurring during an orogastrointestinal passage rely on simplified in vitro systems where an analyte is exposed to artificial intestinal fluids. To closely mimic the events in the gastrointestinal tract, the exact intestinal fluid composition and the in vivo concentration of its constituents must be known. The widely used lavage procedures, however, dilute the intestinal fluids to an extent that precludes recalculation to the original concentrations. Thus, we developed procedures with which undiluted murine intestinal fluid can be harvested; determined the in vivo concentrations of the digestive enzymes trypsin, chymotrypsin, and elastase and the adsorbents mucin and immunoglobulin A in small intestinal fluid of fasted and unfasted female Balb/c mice; and identified chymotrypsin and immunoglobulin A as valid endogenous dilution markers for the recalculation of aqueous lavages. With these technologies and information at hand, more reliable investigations on the fate of allergens, pathogens, food, and anthropogenic xenobiotics in the gastrointestinal tract will be possible.

Corrosion and material alterations of a CuZn38Pb3 brass under acoustic cavitation.

An alloy that is exposed to cavitation may experience mechanical cavitation damages as well as accelerated corrosion. In the present paper, the evolution of corrosion erosion behavior of brass samples (CuZn38Pb3) during continuous exposure to ultrasonic cavitation in a salt solution (NaCl) was investigated. Various samples were sonicated for times between 0 min and 5 h. The average surface roughness and the effective surface area of the samples were measured by confocal microscopy, and the surfaces were inspected by scanning electron microscopy. Different erosion behavior of the phases present on the surface is discussed. Complementary to the surface inspection, the corrosion behavior of the samples before, during and after sonication was investigated through open circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The results show that at the initial times of sonication preferably the lead islets were removed from the brass surface, resulting in a change in the open circuit potential. α and ß' phases showed ductile and brittle behavior under sonication, respectively. The corrosion rate of the alloy under cavitation increased as the sonication time increased, mainly related to the increase in effective surface area and the rise of plastic deformation of the surface material.

Bubble size measurements in different acoustic cavitation structures: Filaments, clusters, and the acoustically cavitated jet.

Acoustic cavitation typically forms a variety of bubble structures of generally unknown and broad size distributions. As the bubbles strongly oscillate, their (equilibrium) sizes are not directly observable. Here, a method is presented to experimentally determine the size distribution in bubble populations from high-speed imaging of the bubbles in oscillation. To this end, a spherical bubble model is applied in statistical fashion. This technique is applied to several experimentally realized bubble structures: streamer filaments, clusters, and a peculiar structure we report here on, the acoustically cavitated jet. It is generated by the sonication of a submerged jet to produce abundant cavitation at low flow velocities. Our analysis is complemented by numerical exploration of the hydrodynamic and acoustic properties of the experimental configuration in which the observed bubble structures are formed.

Membrane cleaning with ultrasonically driven bubbles.

A laboratory filtration plant for drinking water treatment is constructed to study the conditions for purely mechanical in situ cleaning of fouled polymeric membranes by the application of ultrasound. The filtration is done by suction of water with defined constant contamination through a membrane module, a stack of five pairs of flat-sheet ultrafiltration membranes. The short cleaning cycle to remove the cake layer from the membranes includes backwashing, the application of ultrasound and air flushing. A special geometry for sound irradiation of the membranes parallel to their surfaces is chosen. Two frequencies, 35kHz and 130kHz, and different driving powers are tested for their cleaning effectiveness. No cleaning is found for 35kHz, whereas good cleaning results are obtained for 130kHz, with an optimum cleaning effectiveness at moderate driving powers. Acoustic and optic measurements in space and time as well as analytical considerations and numerical calculations reveal the reasons and confirm the experimental results. The sound field is measured in high resolution and bubble structures are high-speed imaged on their nucleation sites as well as during their cleaning work at the membrane surface. The microscopic inspection of the membrane surface after cleaning shows distinct cleaning types in the cake layer that are related to specific bubble behaviour on the membrane. The membrane integrity and permeate quality are checked on-line by particle counting and turbidity measurement of the permeate. No signs of membrane damage or irreversible membrane degradation in permeability are detected and an excellent water permeate quality is retained.

Mechanisms of single bubble cleaning.

The dynamics of collapsing bubbles close to a flat solid is investigated with respect to its potential for removal of surface attached particles. Individual bubbles are created by nanosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses focused into water close to glass plates contaminated with melamine resin micro-particles. The bubble dynamics is analysed by means of synchronous high-speed recordings. Due to the close solid boundary, the bubble collapses with the well-known liquid jet phenomenon. Subsequent microscopic inspection of the substrates reveals circular areas clean of particles after a single bubble generation and collapse event. The detailed bubble dynamics, as well as the cleaned area size, is characterised by the non-dimensional bubble stand-off γ=d/Rmax, with d: laser focus distance to the solid boundary, and Rmax: maximum bubble radius before collapse. We observe a maximum of clean area at γ≈0.7, a roughly linear decay of the cleaned circle radius for increasing γ, and no cleaning for γ>3.5. As the main mechanism for particle removal, rapid flows at the boundary are identified. Three different cleaning regimes are discussed in relation to γ: (I) For large stand-off, 1.8<γ<3.5, bubble collapse induced vortex flows touch down onto the substrate and remove particles without significant contact of the gas phase. (II) For small distances, γ<1.1, the bubble is in direct contact with the solid. Fast liquid flows at the substrate are driven by the jet impact with its subsequent radial spreading, and by the liquid following the motion of the collapsing and rebounding bubble wall. Both flows remove particles. Their relative timing, which depends sensitively on the exact γ, appears to determine the extension of the area with forces large enough to cause particle detachment. (III) At intermediate stand-off, 1.1<γ<1.8, only the second bubble collapse touches the substrate, but acts with cleaning mechanisms similar to an effective small γ collapse: particles are removed by the jet flow and the flow induced by the bubble wall oscillation. Furthermore, the observations reveal that the extent of direct bubble gas phase contact to the solid is partially smaller than the cleaned area, and it is concluded that three-phase contact line motion is not a major cause of particle removal. Finally, we find a relation of cleaning area vs. stand-off γ that deviates from literature data on surface erosion. This indicates that different effects are responsible for particle removal and for substrate damage. It is suggested that a trade-off of cleaning potential and damage risk for sensible surfaces might be achieved by optimising γ.

Vortex dynamics of collapsing bubbles: Impact on the boundary layer measured by chronoamperometry.

Cavitation bubbles collapsing in the vicinity to a solid substrate induce intense micro-convection at the solid. Here we study the transient near-wall flows generated by single collapsing bubbles by chronoamperometric measurements synchronously coupled with high-speed imaging. The individual bubbles are created at confined positions by a focused laser pulse. They reach a maximum expansion radius of approximately 425µm. Several stand-off distances to the flat solid boundary are investigated and all distances are chosen sufficiently large that no gas phase of the expanding and collapsing bubble touches the solid directly. With a microelectrode embedded into the substrate, the time-resolved perturbations in the liquid shear layer are probed by means of a chronoamperometric technique. The measurements of electric current are synchronized with high-speed imaging of the bubble dynamics. The perturbations of the near-wall layer are found to result mainly from ring vortices created by the jetting bubble. Other bubble induced flows, such as the jet and flows following the radial bubble oscillations are perceptible with this technique, but show a minor influence at the stand-off distances investigated.

Bystander protein protects potential vaccine-targeting ligands against intestinal proteolysis.

Endowing mucosal vaccines with ligands that target antigen to mucosal lymphoid tissues may improve immunization efficacy provided that the ligands withstand the proteolytic environment of the gastro-intestinal tract until they reach their destination. Our aim was to investigate whether and how three renowned ligands - Ulex europaeus agglutinin I and the B subunits of cholera toxin and E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin - master this challenge. We assessed the digestive power of natural murine intestinal fluid (natIF) using assays for trypsin, chymotrypsin and pancreatic elastase along with a test for nonspecific proteolysis. The natIF was compared with simulated murine intestinal fluid (simIF) that resembled the trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase activities of its natural counterpart but lacked or contained albumins as additional protease substrates. The ligands were exposed to the digestive fluids and degradation was determined. The studies revealed that (i) the three pancreatic endoproteases constitute only one third of the total protease activity of natIF and (ii) the ligands resist proteolysis in natIF and protein-enriched simIF over 3 h but (iii) are partially destroyed in simIF that lacks additional protease substrate. We assume that the proteins of natIF are preferred substrates for the intestinal proteases and thus can protect vaccine-targeting ligands from destruction.