We consider surface-induced ratcheting transport of particles in nano-channels, particularly at room temperature. We show that at room temperature it is possible to achieve ratcheting of about 10 nm ...size particles in a nano-channel of about 100 nm width. The typical ratcheting velocity in such a case could be of the order of a few hundred nano-meter when the surface undulations are of a wavelength of a few hundred nano-meter and of the amplitude of a few tens of nano-meter. At room temperature, the viscosity of the fluid enabling such transport in the nano-channels comes out to be that of water. We show here a considerably large effect under realistic conditions which could be used for application in efficient filtration of particles and such processes probably are in use in biological systems which typically work at room temperature.
•Surface undulations induced particle ratcheting in nano-channels.•Coupling of surface fluctuations to diffusion results in ratcheting.•Ratcheting is most efficient at room temperature in water.•Ratcheting can generate a velocity of a few hundred nm s−1.
The textural attributes of mixed hydrogels formed from potato protein (PP) and gellan gum (GG) were examined for their potential application as novel protein-rich foods (NPFs). Initially, the ...properties of gels formed by the individual biopolymers were characterized using dynamic shear rheology, compression testing, and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Rheological analysis revealed that PP dispersions formed irreversible heat-set gels, whereas GG formed reversible cold-set gels at lower temperatures. The effects of adding PP to high acyl gellan gum (HA-GG) or low acyl gellan gum (LA-GG) solutions on the microstructure and rheology of the mixed gels formed were then examined. The PP/LA-GG composite gels had a highly heterogeneous microstructure consisting of protein-rich and polysaccharide-rich regions. In contrast, the PP/HA-GG composite gels had a more uniform microstructure. Interestingly, the incorporation of the PP weakened the PP/LA-GG composite gels (antagonism) but strengthened the PP/HA-GG composite gels (synergism), which was mainly attributed to their different impacts on gel microstructure. This study shows that semi-solid plant protein-dietary fiber composites can be formed with a variety of textural attributes by altering the nature and concentration of biopolymers used to formulate them. These mixed gels may be useful for the creation of NPFs. This study also highlights the complexity of the interactions between different food biopolymers and their impacts on food properties, highlighting the need for further research on understanding structure-function relationships in multicomponent biopolymer materials.
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•The impact of gellan gum acylation on potato protein composite gel properties was studied.•Gellan gum type impacted the microstructure and texture of the composite hydrogels.•The incorporation of low acyl gellan gum weakened gel textures (antagonism).•The incorporation of high acyl gellan gum strengthened gel textures (synergism).
In this paper, we review the physicochemical phenomena occurring during the structuring processes in the manufacturing of plant-based meat analogs via high-moisture-extrusion (HME). After the initial ...discussion on the input materials, we discuss the hypotheses behind the physics of the functional tasks that can be defined for HME. For these hypotheses, we have taken a broader view than only the scientific literature on plant-based meat analogs but incorporated also literature from soft matter physics and patent literature. Many of these hypotheses remain to be proven. Hence, we hope that this overview will inspire researchers to fill the still-open knowledge gaps concerning the multiscale structure of meat analogs.
•Multitude of new hypotheses are formulated for structuring of extruded meat analogs.•Structuring of meat analogs occurs at three different length scales.•Materials resemble of microgels, associative polymers, and transient networks.
Disclination lines play a key role in many physical processes, from the fracture of materials to the formation of the early universe. Achieving versatile control over disclinations is key to ...developing novel electro-optical devices, programmable origami, directed colloidal assembly, and controlling active matter. Here, we introduce a theoretical framework to tailor three-dimensional disclination architecture in nematic liquid crystals experimentally. We produce quantitative predictions for the connectivity and shape of disclination lines found in nematics confined between two thinly spaced glass substrates with strong patterned planar anchoring. By drawing an analogy between nematic liquid crystals and magnetostatics, we find that i) disclination lines connect defects with the same topological charge on opposite surfaces and ii) disclination lines are attracted to regions of the highest twist. Using polarized light to pattern the in-plane alignment of liquid crystal molecules, we test these predictions experimentally and identify critical parameters that tune the disclination lines' curvature. We verify our predictions with computer simulations and find nondimensional parameters enabling us to match experiments and simulations at different length scales. Our work provides a powerful method to understand and practically control defect lines in nematic liquid crystals.
One of the innate fundamentals of living systems is their ability to respond toward distinct stimuli by various self-organization behaviors. Despite extensive progress, the engineering of spontaneous ...motion in man-made inorganic materials still lacks the directionality and scale observed in nature. We report the directional self-organization of soft materials into three-dimensional geometries by the rapid propagation of a folding stimulus along a predetermined path. We engineer a unique Janus bilayer architecture with superior chemical and mechanical properties that enables the efficient transformation of surface energy into directional kinetic and elastic energies. This Janus bilayer can respond to pinpoint water stimuli by a rapid, several-centimeters-long self-assembly that is reminiscent of the
's leaflet folding. The Janus bilayers also shuttle water at flow rates up to two orders of magnitude higher than traditional wicking-based devices, reaching velocities of 8 cm/s and flow rates of 4.7 μl/s. This self-organization regime enables the ease of fabricating curved, bent, and split flexible channels with lengths greater than 10 cm, demonstrating immense potential for microfluidics, biosensors, and water purification applications.
Abstract
The development of self-propelled particles at the micro- and the nanoscale has sparked a huge potential for future applications in active matter physics, microsurgery, and targeted drug ...delivery. However, while the latter applications provoke the quest on how to optimally navigate towards a target, such as e.g. a cancer cell, there is still no simple way known to determine the optimal route in sufficiently complex environments. Here we develop a machine learning-based approach that allows us, for the first time, to determine the asymptotically optimal path of a self-propelled agent which can freely steer in complex environments. Our method hinges on policy gradient-based deep reinforcement learning techniques and, crucially, does not require any reward shaping or heuristics. The presented method provides a powerful alternative to current analytical methods to calculate optimal trajectories and opens a route towards a universal path planner for future intelligent active particles.
Biofilms occur in a broad range of environments under heterogeneous physicochemical conditions, such as in bioremediation plants, on surfaces of biomedical implants, and in the lungs of cystic ...fibrosis patients. In these scenarios, biofilms are subjected to shear forces, but the mechanical integrity of these aggregates often prevents their disruption or dispersal. Biofilms' physical robustness is the result of the multiple biopolymers secreted by constituent microbial cells which are also responsible for numerous biological functions. A better understanding of the role of these biopolymers and their response to dynamic forces is therefore crucial for understanding the interplay between biofilm structure and function. In this paper, we review experimental techniques in rheology, which help quantify the viscoelasticity of biofilms, and modeling approaches from soft matter physics that can assist our understanding of the rheological properties. We describe how these methods could be combined with synthetic biology approaches to control and investigate the effects of secreted polymers on the physical properties of biofilms. We argue that without an integrated approach of the three disciplines, the links between genetics, composition, and interaction of matrix biopolymers and the viscoelastic properties of biofilms will be much harder to uncover.
The vast majority of cell biological studies examine function and molecular mechanisms using cells on flat surfaces: glass, plastic and more recently elastomeric polymers. While these studies have ...provided a wealth of valuable insight, they fail to consider that most biologically occurring surfaces are curved, with a radius of curvature roughly corresponding to the length scale of cells themselves. Here, we review recent studies showing that cells detect and respond to these curvature cues by adjusting and re-orienting their cell bodies, actin fibres and nuclei as well as by changing their transcriptional programme. Modelling substratum curvature has the potential to provide fundamental new insight into cell behaviour and function
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There is growing interest in the design and fabrication of next‐generation plant‐based (NG‐PB) foods that have physicochemical and functional properties that simulate those of traditional ...animal‐based foods, like meat, seafood, egg, and dairy products. Many of these products are colloidal materials containing particles or polymers, which means that their properties can be understood using soft matter physics concepts. The rheological properties of NG‐PB foods may vary widely, including low‐viscosity fluids (like milk), high‐viscosity fluids (creams), soft solids (like yogurt), and hard solids (like some cheeses). For manufacturers of NG‐PB foods to mimic this broad range of products it is important to have theoretical models to identify, predict, and control the key parameters impacting their textural attributes. In this article, the theoretical models developed to describe the properties of fluid, semi‐solid, and solid colloidal dispersions are summarized, and their potential for improving the design and fabrication of NG‐PB foods is highlighted. In the future, it will be important to establish the most appropriate models for different categories of NG‐PB foods and to determine their range of applications.
Next‐generation plant‐based foods are colloidal systems consisting of polymers and particles whose properties can be understood using soft matter physics.
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