Nanoscale self-assembling salt-crystal 'origami' balls envelop liquids

Researchers have developed a technique whereby they can spontaneously encapsulate microscopic droplets of water and oil emulsion in a tiny sphere made of salt crystals—sort of like a minute, self-constructing origami soccer ball filled with liquid. The process, which they are calling 'crystal capillary origami,' could be used in a range of fields from more precise drug delivery to nanoscale medical devices. The technique is described in a paper appearing in the journal Nanoscale on September 21.