Double emulsions of water-in-oil-in-water (w1/o/w2) are critical for encapsulation and controlled release in microfluidic applications. In this work, double emulsion droplets were produced via a two-step flow-focusing process in a microchannel. A low-viscosity silicone oil (4.6 mPa s) was used as the oil phase, while the aqueous phase consisted of 48 wt% water and 52 wt% glycerol. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was added at concentrations 0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2 times its critical micelle concentration (CMC = 11 mM) to systematically vary the interfacial tension. Three distinct formation regimes, namely drop-in-drop, drop-in-plug, and drop-in-thread, were identified under varying flow rate ratios and interfacial tensions. A semi-empirical model was developed to predict double droplet size in the drop-in-drop regime, which has significant practical relevance. For conditions with C/CMC ≥ 1, where interfacial tension is assumed to have reached equilibrium, good agreement with the experimental data was obtained, with mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) of 8.16% for the core droplets and 9.54% for the double droplets. For lower surfactant concentrations, incorporating dynamic interfacial tension gave a MAPE of 8.17% for double droplet size prediction. These results provide a quantitative framework for droplet size prediction and offer operating guidance for the controlled generation of encapsulated droplets in microfluidic systems.

The precise control of droplets and bubbles is critical for advancing microfluidics, micro/nano robotics, and lab-on-a-chip technologies, enabling a broad spectrum of applications. However, despite preliminary demonstrations of 3D bubble motion, current strategies are harshly limited by interface dependence. The goal of achieving multidimensional control of bubbles for complex micromanipulation and assembly tasks remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose a novel strategy for 3D micromanipulation by leveraging laser-generated optothermal bubbles within a dimethyl silicone oil medium. Unlike conventional systems where bubble-based microrobots are confined to 2D motion at solid-liquid interfaces, our approach enables complex multidimensional mobility. The optothermal bubble microrobots demonstrated various capabilities, including 2D remote attraction, simultaneous control of multiple bubbles, 3D ascent, and controlled reattachment. We successfully showcase its application in the precise manipulation and assembly of microstructures in 3D space. This 3D bubble microrobot functions as a versatile micromanipulation tool. It may overcome the fundamental limitations of previous bubble-driven systems and opens new avenues for sophisticated microrobotic operations.

We perform three-dimensional simulations of SAW-driven spreading of silicone oil drops on flat substrates and over solid obstacles. The resulting model takes the form of a three-dimensional long-wave thin-film equation incorporating capillary, gravitational, and SAW-induced acoustic stresses. A key feature of the formulation is a smooth attenuation function that localizes acoustic forcing within the bulk drop while avoiding spurious transverse discontinuities. Comparisons with results of earlier 2D formulations demonstrate qualitatively similar dynamics, albeit the additional spatial dimension permits transverse mass redistribution driven by capillarity, which leads to slower streamwise spreading and slightly lower drop apexes than predicted by 2D models. The model is applied to SAW induced dynamic wetting of flat substrates and solid obstacles and is representative of experimental geometries. Quantitative comparisons with experimental observations show good agreement for front propagation and obstacle climbing dynamics. In particular, improved agreement with the experimentally observed dependence of the liquid climbing time over obstacles on SAW amplitude is obtained when the fully three-dimensional formulation is used.

HighlightsTake ms level photos of the thermal runaway process of lithium-ion batteries.Study on thermal runaway behavior of lithium-ion batteries in silicone oil.CO2 or silicone oil can not completely eliminate the flame in the thermal runaway process of lithium-ion batteries, but can significantly inhibit the intensity of the flame.

This case report aims to present a modification of the temporal inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique in macular hole surgery. The inverted ILM flap technique was first described in 2010 and was shown to yield superior functional and anatomical outcomes in large macular holes compared to traditional ILM peeling. However, flap displacement can be a major concern with the inverted ILM flap technique. In the first case, a failed large macular hole after temporal inverted ILM flap surgery was reoperated, and flap displacement was observed as the reason for failure. The displaced ILM flap was inverted again and the superior corner of the flap was tucked under the small ILM defect in the upper nasal macular area to stabilize it. Hence, it is called as “envelope modification”. Another patient with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with coexistent macular hole underwent vitrectomy surgery with silicone oil. The retina was attached postoperatively, and the macular hole was closed with a flat-open pattern. During silicone oil removal, the envelope modification was used and the hole closed. Both patients had visual improvement. Although the inverted ILM flap technique is very effective for large macular holes, the modification described here may further improve the success rate.

Endophthalmitis caused by Nocardia brasiliensis is extremely rare and typically affects immunocompromised individuals, frequently leading to severe vision loss due to diagnostic delays. We report a case of N. brasiliensis endophthalmitis in an older man without prior history of systemic immunosuppression but with newly identified diabetes mellitus, characterized by an indolent initial course followed by fulminant progression. A 67-year-old man without known systemic immunosuppression presented with a two-month history of recurrent right-eye pain and redness, followed by rapid vision loss and a hypopyon. Aqueous humor analysis and metagenomic sequencing identified N. brasiliensis. Despite intravitreal amikacin, systemic antimicrobial therapy, and subsequent pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade, intraocular inflammation advanced, resulting in worsening corneal opacification, irreversible structural damage, and a final best-corrected visual acuity of light perception. N. brasiliensis endophthalmitis may progress rapidly and result in severe, irreversible ocular damage, even in patients without overt systemic immunodeficiency. Early microbiologic identification and prompt, targeted antimicrobial therapy combined with timely surgical intervention are critical, although visual outcomes may remain poor in advanced cases.

Advanced anterior and posterior segment silicone oil emulsification associated with elevated intraocular pressure.

Surgical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Morning Glory Syndrome-Associated Retinal Detachment.

FLASH imaging is widely assumed to produce a T1-weighted steady-state contrast using RF- and gradient-spoiling. We observed substantial overestimation of CSF signals in simulations, when diffusion was neglected and realistic proton density was applied. This work investigates the role of diffusion in steady-state FLASH contrast formation and its implications for simulation-based modeling and measurement. FLASH sequences were simulated using phase graph simulations using a synthetic brain phantom with and without diffusion and realistic PD values to show the contrast change. The impact of neglecting diffusion in synthetic training data was evaluated using a segmentation network trained on simulated data and tested on in vivo measurement. Experimental validation of the contrast change was performed using a 3D-printed brain phantom using silicone oil as a low-diffusivity compartment. Without diffusion, simulations showed CSF signal intensities higher than WM, resulting in a contrast change. Diffusion suppresses higher-order echoes in long T2 tissues and is essential for achieving the T1-weighted steady-state contrast. A NN trained without diffusion fails to generalize to in vivo data and measurements with silicone oil compartments confirm the contrast changes in low-diffusivity media. Diffusion is essential for realistic FLASH simulations of long T2 tissues such as CSF. Steady-state FLASH contrast arises from the interplay of RF-, gradient-spoiling, and "multi-TR-relaxation-spoiling" governed by T2-decay and diffusion effects. For many quadratic phase cycling schemes, diffusion is required to obtain realistic T1-weighted contrast in MR simulations and should not be neglected in simulations or simulation-based deep learning applications.

To evaluate the changes in corneal astigmatism, axial length and anterior chamber depth following vitrectomy versus phacovitrectomy in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) under more detail group.To discuss how to avoid visual effect and improve visual quality after vitrectomy and phacovitrectomy by explore the mechanism of changes in corneal astigmatism, axial length and anterior chamber depth. A total of 96 patients who underwent retinal surgery for RRD in one eye, between August 2016 and January 2018, were enrolled and divided into three groups. In 18 eyes, 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (23G TSV) was performed (group A); 25G TSV was performed in 49 eyes (group B); and phacovitrectomy with 25G TSV was performed in 29 eyes (group C). Silicone oil was injected after the surgery in all three groups. Anterior and posterior corneal astigmatism, axial length (AL), and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were measured at baseline and postoperatively at 1week, 1month, and 3months. Anterior and posterior corneal astigmatism did not change, and AL continued to increase for 3months after surgery, whereas ACD decreased postoperatively but quickly returned to baseline in groups A and B. In group C, anterior and posterior corneal astigmatism, AL, and ACD increased postoperatively, and corneal astigmatism returned to baseline by 3months, but AL and ACD continued to increase for 3months. Vitrectomy alone does not affect anterior or posterior corneal astigmatism. Following vitrectomy, the AL increases, while the ACD decreases transiently. When vitrectomy is combined with phacoemulsification for cataract removal, the anterior and posterior corneal astigmatism increases transiently, while AL and ACD are enlarged for several months following surgery.

To describe the detailed clinical course and genetic findings of a Japanese patient with nanophthalmos (isolated microphthalmia) who developed bilateral uveal effusion syndrome (UES). A 50-year-old Japanese man presented with distorted and decreased vision in his right eye. Ophthalmoscopy revealed non-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with shifting subretinal fluid. The horizontal corneal diameter was 11.5mm in both eyes, while the axial lengths were 15.6 and 15.3mm in the right and left eyes, respectively, confirming the diagnosis of nanophthalmos (microphthalmia)-associated UES. After steroid pulse therapy followed by sclerectomy with vortex vein decompression (S-VVD), the UES resolved 10months postoperatively. The eyes remained stable for 15years, after which the patient developed bilateral cataracts and elevated intraocular pressure. Cataract surgery was done uneventfully, but signs of UES appeared in the left eye five days postoperatively. This was controlled with multiple treatments, including steroid pulse therapy, intravitreal anti VEGF injection, and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. However, UES recurred after five months. S-VVD and vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade were performed, and the UES resolved after one year postoperatively. Ultimately, electroretinography (ERG) became non-recordable, and the visual fields were constricted in both eyes. Whole-exome sequencing identified a previously unreported homozygous nonsense variant in PRSS56 (c.202C>T, p.Arg68Ter), classified as pathogenic based on the ACMG criteria. This report describes a patient with an unreported pathogenic PRSS56 variant who exhibited a typical and severe course of nanophthalmos (isolated microphthalmia) complicated by bilateral UES. Although the effusions eventually resolved after multiple interventions, the prolonged UES was challenging to manage and resulted in irreversible retinal dysfunction with a non-recordable ERG.

The vitreous body is not only a transparent filling material of the posterior segment; it is a soft, hydrated, and biologically active matrix that supports structural, optical, and biochemical homeostasis. Vitrectomy therefore leaves a functional deficit that current substitutes only partly address. Intraocular gases, silicone oils, and perfluorocarbon liquids remain essential surgical tools, but they mainly provide mechanical tamponade and do not reproduce native viscoelasticity, diffusion control, or protection against oxidative and inflammatory stress. This review considers vitreous replacement as a functional biomaterials challenge. We discuss native vitreous physiology, the limitations of present tamponade agents, and emerging bioengineered substitutes designed to create a more physiological intravitreal environment. Particular attention is given to hydrogel and polymer-based systems, especially hyaluronic acid-based and in situ crosslinked platforms, which are being developed to combine optical clarity, injectability, soft mechanical support, controlled degradation, and favorable tissue interaction. We also emphasize the need for standardized preclinical testing of swelling, enzymatic stability, drug diffusion, rheology, and long-term biocompatibility. Although next-generation materials may move the field beyond passive space filling, manufacturing reproducibility, regulatory validation, chronic safety, and cautious early-phase trials remain major translational barriers.

Silicone oil (SO) is widely used as a long-term intraocular tamponade, yet its multiphase behavior in vivo remains incompletely understood. While oil-in-water (O/W) emulsification has been extensively studied, the potential formation of water-in-oil (W/O) droplets within the oil phase has received little attention. Here, we provide the first systematic in vivo evidence for W/O droplet formation during long-term vitreous tamponade using a controlled porcine model complemented by analysis of explanted human SO samples. W/O droplets were detected directly within the vitreous cavity, demonstrating that intraocular SO functions as a dynamic multiphase soft material rather than a strictly single continuous phase. A pronounced dependence of droplet size distributions on sampling conditions was observed. Aspiration through narrow-gauge needles induced shear-driven droplet fragmentation, whereas coaspiration of aqueous fluid during infusion generated large artifactual droplets, highlighting that explantation procedures can strongly bias ex vivo observations. Oil viscosity modulated the sensitivity of the system to shear but did not determine droplet occurrence. Complementary in vitro experiments confirmed that needle passage fragments pre-existing droplets rather than inducing de novo droplet formation. By integrating in vivo observations with in vitro phase behavior and interfacial viscoelasticity data, we establish a mechanistic framework in which shear-driven emulsification and protein-mediated interfacial stabilization govern W/O droplet formation and persistence in oil-dominated biological environments. These findings demonstrate that intraocular SO should be regarded as a confined, protein-active multiphase material system and that clinical sampling itself represents a microcapillary shear process influencing observed microstructures. Beyond ophthalmology, this work highlights the critical role of interfacial phenomena and sampling-induced artifacts in the characterization of oil-based biomaterials and soft multiphase systems in complex biological settings.

Endotamponade selection is best understood as a physics-informed, phenotype-based decision rather than one driven mainly by tamponade duration or material class. This narrative review integrates density, interfacial tension, contact angle, viscosity, and drug-tamponade interactions with phenotype-specific clinical outcomes. The result is a practical framework linking tamponade behavior to retinal geography, disease complexity, and postoperative feasibility. Lighter-than-water agents (air, expansile gases, and light silicone oils [LSOs]) preferentially support the superior retina, whereas heavy silicone oils (HSOs) and perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCLs) provide stronger inferior support. In uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and many idiopathic macular holes (MHs), air or sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) usually achieves high anatomical success with less early intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and cataract burden than longer-acting gas or silicone oil when brief postoperative positioning is feasible. LSO remains the principal long-term option for complex, tractional, and traumatic disease because it provides durable, relatively posture-independent support, but at the cost of emulsification, cataract, pressure-related, and corneal complications. HSO and staged short-term PFCL are best viewed as selective strategies for inferior-predominant giant retinal tear (GRT) or posture-limited phenotypes, where the mechanistic rationale is strong but comparative evidence remains largely observational. Hydrogel-based vitreous substitutes are promising but remain investigational. Current evidence supports a physics-informed, phenotype-based approach to endotamponade selection. Future research should prioritize phenotype-stratified comparative studies with standardized anatomical and emulsification endpoints and rigorous evaluation of emerging vitreous substitutes in well-defined clinical settings. Not applied.

Superhydrophobic (SHPo) ceramic surfaces with water contact angles exceeding 150° are highly desirable for demanding applications in aerospace, optics, biomedical devices, and harsh environment engineering due to their potential for self-cleaning, anti-icing, corrosion resistance, and reduced fluid drag. However, their widespread practical adoption is often hindered by process complexity, concerns over thermal durability, and the prevalent reliance on persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic fluorinated compounds, which pose significant environmental and health risks. In this work, we present a rapid, sustainable, and scalable fabrication strategy to achieve fluorine-free SHPo surfaces on technical ceramics. By combining direct nanosecond laser texturing with a rapid and eco-friendly postprocess, namely a 10 min heat treatment using nontoxic silicone oil, we successfully fabricated SHPo surfaces on single-crystal sapphire (Al2O3) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) substrates. This simple thermal treatment accelerates the adsorption of hydrophobic organic groups onto the laser-activated ceramic surface, creating a stable, low-surface-energy layer without hazardous chemicals. We demonstrate that the laser areal fluence, a composite parameter, serves as an effective tool for precisely tuning surface morphology and, consequently, the water adhesion behavior, from low-adhesion, rolling states to high-adhesion, pinned states on these inherently hard and inert materials. This capability to engineer differential adhesion on a single substrate opens avenues for advanced applications in controlled droplet manipulation and microfluidics on ceramic platforms. Furthermore, the long-term stability of the surfaces was evaluated after 3 years in ambient air, and the excellent performance of the SHPo ceramic surface was demonstrated through the water bouncing effect and the self-cleaning effect. This research provides a versatile, environmentally benign, and industrially scalable pathway for manufacturing multifunctional SHPo ceramics.

A woman aged in her 50s presented with sudden onset of vertigo, headaches and epistaxis, initially attributed to her background of chronic systemic hypertension. Ophthalmological history was significant for bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachment managed with vitrectomy, endolaser and intraocular silicone oil 5 years prior to the current presentation. Review of the initial non-contrast CT by our neuroradiology department identified right subretinal silicone oil, tracking along the subarachnoid space of the right optic sheath, right suprasellar cistern and non-dependent lateral ventricles. Initially interpreted as acute haemorrhage at an external facility, the patient underwent repeat imaging over a period of 6 months that failed to demonstrate expected temporal resolution of blood products. A subsequent unifying diagnosis of disseminated subarachnoid and intraventricular silicone oil was established. The following case highlights the relevant clinical history when requesting imaging and pertinent radiological findings when reporting patients postretinal detachment surgery.

To compare functional and anatomical results after 1- vs. 3-month heavy silicone oil (HSO) tamponade to repair complex inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment recurrence (Re-RRD). A retrospective, comparative, cohort study was conducted involving 46 eyes from 46 patients who were affected by complex inferior Re-RRD and had previously undergone tamponade with either gas or silicone oil. All the eyes were treated using HSO (DENSIRON®68), which was removed after 1 (Group A) or 3 months (Group B). The outcomes included the attachment rate, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and intraocular pressure (IOP), comparing these results at 3, 6, and 12 months after HSO removal. Out of 46 eyes that experienced a complex inferior Re-RRD after initial surgery and received HSO, 24 were in Group A and 22 in Group B, with HSO removal after 1 and 3 months, respectively. The re-attachment rates were similar: 91.6% for Group A and 81.8% for Group B (p=0.4). In Group A a significant visual gain occurred during all follow-up (p<0.001), in Group B the significant improvement (p≤0.03) was lost at 12 months. Mean BCVA was better in Group A than B at 6 and 12 months (p≤0.02). Group B exhibited a significant increase in mean IOP after 3 months (p<0.001), consistently exceeding the values observed in Group A throughout the follow-up (p≤0.002). Macular edema occurred in 7 eyes, with no notable differences between the groups. A 1-month HSO endotamponade has a similar re-attachment rate but provides better visual recovery and controlled IOP than a 3-month endotamponade in complex Re-RRD with inferior involvement.

Lens fogging and biological contamination are persistent unmet needs in endoscopic surgery that degrade visualization, disrupt procedural continuity, and compromise patient safety. To address these limitations, we have developed the superlubricious high-clarity interface for endoscopic lens defense cap (SHIELD-C), a single-use snap-on endoscope cap designed to maintain stable endoscopic visualization by forming a durable liquid-liquid interface on the cap surface. SHIELD-C employs a dual-layer architecture consisting of a covalently grafted polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brush base layer and an infused silicone oil top layer, forming a stable and optically transparent liquid-liquid interface. This configuration maintains high optical clarity (optical transmittance of >90% across the visible range) while effectively suppressing adhesion of blood and mucus (sliding angle of <10°). Importantly, the liquid interface enables rapid intraoperative recovery of surface functionality through simple lubricant replenishment, allowing immediate restoration of visual clarity without interrupting the surgical workflow. The antifouling durability as well as the optical stability of SHIELD-C were systematically validated through in vitro tests under chemically and mechanically challenging conditions with additional confirmation in clinically relevant ex vivo surgical models. These results identify SHIELD-C as a stable liquid-liquid interface cap that enhances the reliability and continuity of endoscopic visualization under lens-fouling conditions.

Secondary full-thickness macular holes (sFTMHs) are rare complications following pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Although surgical repair is standard, spontaneous closure occurs in a minority of cases. This report describes a case of spontaneous sFTMH closure and reviews the literature to elucidate associated factors and mechanisms. We present a case of a 33-year-old male who developed a sFTMH after silicone oil removal following PPV for RRD. Additionally, a comprehensive PubMed literature search identified published cases of spontaneous sFTMH closure after RRD repair. The patient's sFTMH closed spontaneously within three months, accompanied by improved visual acuity. A review of over 30 published cases reveals distinct pathogenic and resolution factors. Hole formation is driven by postoperative tangential traction from epiretinal membranes (ERM), cystoid macular edema (CME), surgical trauma, and inflammation, with high-altitude exposure as a notable environmental risk. Conversely,spontaneous closure is favored by a smaller hole diameter and the presence of epiretinal proliferation (EP) which may act as a scaffold for glial bridging, and often coincides with CME resolution, potentially accelerated by topical therapy. Mechanistically, closure is mediated by glial proliferation and tissue apposition under persistent epiretinal traction, combined with intraretinal fluid resorption, leading to variable restoration of the retinal laminar structure. Spontaneous closure of sFTMHs after RRD surgery is a recognized phenomenon. For selected patients with small, minimally symptomatic holes associated with edema or EP,initial management with observation, potentially supplemented by topical therapy, is a viable strategy before considering surgery.

Early Postoperative Outcomes of Phacoemulsification With Concurrent Silicone Oil Removal in a Tertiary Eye Care Hospital of Bangladesh