Research Keywords

soft matter, fluid mechanics, colloidal and interface science, surface-tension phenomena, applied mathematics

Research Interests

I am interested in fundamental aspects of multiphase flow theory, soft matter, and dynamics of complex fluids, with particular emphasis on fluids (both viscoelastic and Newtonian) containing suspended inertial particles, colloids or nanoparticles. My research is primarily carried out by mathematical modelling and fully-resolved simulations. 

In the field of materials research, I am interested in:

- exploring materials assembly strategies that rely on surface-tension forces. An example is particle-stabilized foams, emulsions, and polymer blends. In this field, I have developed simulation and theory for rod-like particles  assembling by capillarity at fluid interfaces.

-  understanding the interaction of filler particles with fluid polymeric matrices. I am trying to tackle the question on how to model the dynamics of filler particles during processing of nanocomposites. As a first step,  I am developing Brownian Dynamics simulations to understand the flocculation dynamics of particles having a fractal structure (e.g. carbon-black). 

2018

ZHANG G, QUETZERI SANTIAGO MA, Stone CA, BOTTO L and CASTREJON PITA JR (2018). Droplet impact dynamics on textiles. Royal Society of Chemistry  Soft Matter  10.1039/C8SM01082J

Santagiuliana G, Picot OT, Crespo M, Porwal H, Zhang H, Li Y, Rubini L, Colonna S, Fina A, Barbieri E, Spoelstra AB, Mirabello G, Patterson JP, Botto L, Pugno NM, Peijs T and Bilotti E (2018). Breaking the Nanoparticle Loading-Dispersion Dichotomy in Polymer Nanocomposites with the Art of Croissant-Making. Acs Nano  10.1021/acsnano.8b02877

MATA A (2018). A fluidic device for the controlled formation and real-time monitoring of soft membranes self-assembled at liquid interfaces. Nature Publishing Group  Scientific Reports  10.1038/s41598-018-20998-7

2017

GU C and BOTTO L (2017). Buckling vs. particle desorption in a particle-covered drop subject to compressive surface stresses: a simulation study. Soft Matter  10.1039/c7sm01912b

Pandey A, Karpitschka S, Lubbers LA, Weijs JH, Botto L, Das S, Andreotti B and Snoeijer JH (2017). Dynamical theory of the inverted cheerios effect. Soft Matter  vol. 13, (35) 6000-6010. 10.1039/c7sm00690j

MATA A, Azevedo HS, Botto L, Gavara N and Su L (2017). New Bioengineering Breakthroughs and Enabling Tools in Regenerative Medicine. Current Stem Cell Reports  10.1007/s40778-017-0081-9

Alvaro Vidal AV and BOTTO L (2017). Slip flow past a gas-liquid interface with embedded solid particles. Journal of Fluid Mechanics  10.1017/jfm.2016.842

2016

Karpitschka S, Pandey A, Lubbers LA, Weijs JH, Botto L, Das S, Andreotti B and Snoeijer JH (2016). Liquid drops attract or repel by the inverted Cheerios effect. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences  vol. 113, (27) 7403-7407. 10.1073/pnas.1601411113

Sliogeryte K, Botto L, Lee DA and Knight MM (2016). Chondrocyte dedifferentiation increases cell stiffness by strengthening membrane-actin adhesion. Elsevier  Osteoarthritis and Cartilage  vol. 24, (5) 912-920. 10.1016/j.joca.2015.12.007

Gu C and Botto L (2016). Direct calculation of anisotropic surface stresses during deformation of a particle-covered drop. Soft Matter  vol. 12, (3) 705-716. 10.1039/c5sm02374b

2015

Inostroza-Brito KE, Collin E, Siton-Mendelson O, Smith KH, Monge-Marcet A, Ferreira DS, Rodríguez RP, Alonso M, Rodríguez-Cabello JC, Reis RL, Sagués F, Botto L, Bitton R, Azevedo HS and Mata A (2015). Co-assembly, spatiotemporal control and morphogenesis of a hybrid protein-peptide system. Nat Chem  vol. 7, (11) 897-904. 10.1038/nchem.2349

Davies GB and Botto L (2015). Dipolar capillary interactions between tilted ellipsoidal particles adsorbed at fluid-fluid interfaces. Soft Matter  vol. 11, (40) 7969-7976. 10.1039/c5sm01815c

2014

Sliogeryte K, Thorpe SD, Lee DA, Botto L and Knight MM (2014). Stem cell differentiation increases membrane-actin adhesion regulating cell blebability, migration and mechanics. Sci Rep  vol. 4, 10.1038/srep07307

Lubbers LA, Weijs JH, Botto L, Das S, Andreotti B and Snoeijer JH (2014). Drops on soft solids: free energy and double transition of contact angles. Journal of Fluid Mechanics  vol. 747, 10.1017/jfm.2014.152

Botto L, Preuss K, Robertson LX and Xu XY (2014). Physical characterisation and yield stress of a concentrated Miscanthus suspension. Rheologica Acta  vol. 53, (10-11) 805-815. 10.1007/s00397-014-0794-y

2013

Yao L, BOTTO L, Cavallaro MJ, Bleier BJ, Garvin V and Stebe KJ (2013). Near-field capillary repulsion. Royal Society of Chemistry  Soft Matter  (3) 779-786. 10.1039/C2SM27020J

Botto L (2013). A geometric multigrid Poisson solver for domains containing solid inclusions. Computer Physics Communications  vol. 184, 1033-1044. 10.1016/j.cpc.2012.11.008

2012

Botto L, Yao L, Leheny RL and Stebe KJ (2012). Capillary bond between rod-like particles and the micromechanics of particle-laden interfaces. Soft Matter  vol. 8, (18) 4971-4979. 10.1039/c2sm25211b

Botto L and Prosperetti A (2012). A fully resolved numerical simulation of turbulent flow past one or several spherical particles. Physics of Fluids  vol. 24, (1) 10.1063/1.3678336

Botto L, Lewandowski EP, Cavallaro M and Stebe KJ (2012). Capillary interactions between anisotropic particles. Soft Matter  vol. 8, 10.1039/C2SM25929J

2011

Cavallaro M, Botto L, Lewandowski EP, Wang M and Stebe KJ (2011). Curvature-driven capillary migration and assembly of rod-like particles. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America  vol. 108, (52) 20923-20928. 10.1073/pnas.1116344108

Botto L, Yao L, Cavallaro M and Stebe K (2011). Rod-like microparticles at interfaces: near-field capillary interactions and implications for mechanics of particle-laden interfaces.

2010

Stebe K, Lewandowski E and Botto L (2010). Capillary interactions between elongated microparticles: A Pair Potential.

Botto L and Stebe K (2010). Capillary bond between rod-like microparticles at interfaces.

Lewandowski E, Cavallaro M, Botto L and Bernate J (2010). Orientation and self-assembly of cylindrical particles by anisotropic capillary interactions. 10.1021/la1012632

2006

Botto L, Zhang Z and Prosperetti A (2006). Microstructural Effects in a Fully-Resolved Simulation of 1,024 Sedimenting Spheres.

2005

Botto L, Narayanan C, Fulgosi M and Lakehal D (2005). Effect of near-wall turbulence enhancement on the mechanisms of particle deposition.

2003

Narayanan C, Lakehal D, Botto L and Soldati A (2003). Mechanisms of particle deposition in a fully developed turbulent open channel flow.

TBC

TBC