Mechano-chemical dynamics of active gels: interplay between spatial bistability and volume variations

Abstract

The mechano-chemical dynamics of a spherical bead of gel immersed in an autocatalytic bistable chemical reaction are examined. The spheres exhibit autonomous volume selfoscillation dynamics. We present a multi-diffusional approach to a hydrodynamic theory of gels, and also evolution equations incorporating chemical processes.Local equilibrium is crucial to the derivation of hydrodynamic equations. The differential of the free energy of the polymeric matrix system with solvent and chemical solute species is Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 5/30/15 1:10 PM Figure 2 Bifurcation diagram showing the concentration of c 1 at the center of the bead as a function of its radius for D = 2 × 10 -5 cm 2 /s, c 10 = 3.81 × 10 -4 M , c 20 = 4.38 × 10 -3 M , k a = 4.5 × 10 3 M -3 s -1 k b = 4.5 × 10 8 M -4 s -1 .The bistability range is between R inf = 0.0372 cm and R sup = 0.038 cm.