Forming self-rotating pinwheels from assemblies of oscillating polymer gels

Deb, Debabrata; Kuksenok, Olga; Dayal, Pratyush; Balazs, Anna C.

doi:10.1039/c3mh00083d

Cited by 9 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…3c. (The movement of the gels and chemical waves in opposite directions was observed via our simulations in other examples involving motile BZ gels [36,[40][41][42][43].) In effect, the gels move toward the highest concentration of u [36,37].…”

Section: Self-propelled Motion Of Oscillating Gelsmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…direction in this particular example. This mode of phase locking is a necessary component for ultimately forming pinwheels (which encompass both the rotating gel assembly and the spinning of the individual gels) [43]. As noted above, the gels move in the direction opposite to that of the traveling chemical waves.…”

Section: Self-propelled Motion Of Oscillating Gelsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The above behavior sets the stage for the autonomous formation of self-rotating 'pinwheels' [43]. As seen in Fig.…”

Section: Self-propelled Motion Of Oscillating Gelsmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Designing biomimetic reactive polymer gels

et al. 2014

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Materials of the future will exhibit bio-inspired behavior that enables a range of novel applications. We review computational studies on reactive gels that reveal how to tailor the gels and external stimuli to impart this biomimetic functionality. For example, photo-responsive gels can be 'molded' by light into various three-dimensional shapes, permitting a single sample to have multiple uses. Reactive gels undergoing the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction 'communicate' to form self-rotating gears, which could perform autonomous work. Finally, nanorod-filled reactive gels effectively regenerate the gel matrix when a layer of the material is sliced-off and thus, dramatically extend the material's life time.

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Section: Self-propelled Motion Of Oscillating Gelsmentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Self-propelled Motion Of Oscillating Gelsmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Designing biomimetic reactive polymer gels

et al. 2014

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“…We then pinpoint conditions where four BZ gels, which interact through this chemical communication, can form a single rotating pinwheel. Here, we extend calculations from earlier studies [9] and thereby pinpoint the role that the local concentration of chemical species in the surrounding solution play in promoting the rotation of the four-gel assembly. Next, we examine the interactions between two distinct four-gel clusters and determine how light can be utilized to promote the robust formation of two rotating pinwheels.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…1i). To understand the reason for this motion, we note that the distribution of u is higher around the pinwheel than around the non-rotating cluster [9]. As discussed above, the gels move toward the highest concentration of u and hence, the gels migrate towards the pinwheels.…”

Section: Communication Among Multiple Bz Gels Placed In a Rowmentioning

confidence: 92%

Using light to control the interactions between self-rotating assemblies of active gels

Deb

Kuksenok

Balazs

2014

Polymer

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Designing Synthetic Microcapsules That Undergo Biomimetic Communication and Autonomous Motion

Yashin

Kolmakov²,

Shum

et al. 2015

Langmuir

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Inspired by the collective behavior of slime molds and amoebas, we designed synthetic cell-like objects that move and self-organize in response to self-generated chemical gradients, thereby exhibiting autochemotaxis. Using computational modeling, we specifically focused on microcapsules that encompass a permeable shell and are localized on an adhesive surface in solution. Lacking any internal machinery, these spherical, fluid-filled shells might resemble the earliest protocells. Our microcapsules do, however, encase particles that can diffuse through the outer shell and into the surrounding fluid. The released particles play two important, physically realizable roles: (1) they affect the permeability of neighboring capsules and (2) they generate adhesion gradients on the underlying surface. Due to feedback mechanisms provided by the released particles, the self-generated adhesion gradients, and hydrodynamic interactions, the capsules undergo collective, self-sustained motion and even exhibit antlike tracking behavior. With the introduction of a chemically patterned stripe on the surface, a triad of capsules can be driven to pick up four-capsule cargo, transport this cargo, and drop off this payload at a designated site. We also modeled a system where the released particles give rise to a particular cycle of negative feedback loops (mimicking the "repressilator" network), which regulates the production of chemicals within the capsules and hence their release into the solution. By altering the system parameters, three capsules could be controllably driven to self-organize into a stable, close-packed triad that would either translate as a group or remain stationary. Moreover, the stationary triads could be made to switch off after assembly and thus produce minimal quantities of chemicals. Taken together, our models allow us to design a rich variety of self-propelled structures that achieve complex, cooperative behavior through fundamental physicochemical phenomena. The studies can also shed light on factors that enable individual protocells to communicate and self-assemble into larger communities.

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Forming self-rotating pinwheels from assemblies of oscillating polymer gels

Cited by 9 publications

References 29 publications

Designing biomimetic reactive polymer gels

Designing biomimetic reactive polymer gels

Using light to control the interactions between self-rotating assemblies of active gels

Designing Synthetic Microcapsules That Undergo Biomimetic Communication and Autonomous Motion

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