Fig. 2.

Mechanism of budding-like division of w/w emulsion droplets mediated by protein nanofibrils. a–e Schematic diagram and fluorescence microscope images describing the mechanistic steps in the budding-like division of w/w droplets. The fibril network (stained green) contracts and phase-separates from the remaining liquid phase through a dewetting transition. In this transition, the as-formed protrusions coalesce (as pinpointed by the white arrows) until a sufficient amount of fibrils adsorbs at the w/w interface to stabilize daughter droplets. Complete fission of dextran-rich subdroplets (faked red color) is observed after total decomposition of the fibril networks in the PEG-rich continuous phase. Scale bars, 100 μm. Fluorescence microscope images showing f single division (C_fibril = 0.5 wt%) and g multiple division (C_fibril = 1.0 wt%) of w/w droplets preloaded with protein nanofibrils and 8% dextran. Scale bars, 200 μm. The continuous phase consists of 8 wt% PEG dissolved in 10 mM HCl