| abstract |
A method for encapsulating or sorting colloidal objects, comprising the step of flowing said objects in a first flow stream partly or fully surrounded by at least one second flow stream in a channel comprising a narrow strait, wherein along an elongated part of the path of said first flow stream either (a) the bidimensional size of said first flow stream is smaller than the largest bidimensional size of at least some of said objects, either (b) the smallest unidimensional size of said first flow stream is smaller than the largest unidimensional size of at least some of said objects, either (c) said first flow stream is splitting, in the absence of said objects, into droplets with a volume smaller than the volume of at least some of said objects, or (d) said first flow stream would have in the absence of said particles, a shape that cannot entirely encompass some of said objects. |