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Cereceda-López E, De Corato M, Pagonabarraga I, Meng F, Tierno P, Ortiz-Ambriz A. Curvature induces and enhances transport of spinning colloids through narrow channels. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:7615-7622. [PMID: 39283653 PMCID: PMC11404672 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00829d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024]
Abstract
The effect of curvature and how it induces and enhances the transport of colloidal particles driven through narrow channels represent an unexplored research avenue. Here we combine experiments and simulations to investigate the dynamics of magnetically driven colloidal particles confined through a narrow, circular channel. We use an external precessing magnetic field to induce a net torque and spin the particles at a defined angular velocity. Due to the spinning, the particle propulsion emerges from the different hydrodynamic coupling with the inner and outer walls and strongly depends on the curvature. The experimental findings are combined with finite element numerical simulations that predict a positive rotation translation coupling in the mobility matrix. Further, we explore the collective transport of many particles across the curved geometry, making an experimental realization of a driven single file system. With our finding, we elucidate the effect of curvature on the transport of microscopic particles which could be important to understand the complex, yet rich, dynamics of particle systems driven through curved microfluidic channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Cereceda-López
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Spain.
- Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia, Universitat de Barcelona (IN2UB), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marco De Corato
- Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ignacio Pagonabarraga
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Spain.
- University of Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fanlong Meng
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory for Theoretical Physics, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, School of Physical Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou Institute, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Pietro Tierno
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Spain.
- Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia, Universitat de Barcelona (IN2UB), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- University of Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Ortiz-Ambriz
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Science and Engineering, 64849, Monterrey, Mexico.
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2
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Yang T, Zhou J, Wang Y, Fan B, Qiao J, Chen L, Wang X, Guo L, Yang H, Li Q. Magnetic Micromotors with Spiky Gold Nanoshells as SERS Sensors for Thiram and Bacteria Detection. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2405193. [PMID: 39252656 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202405193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2024] [Revised: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is widely used in all kinds of detection due to its ultrahigh sensitivity and selectivity. Micromotors, when used as SERS sensors, or the so-called "hotspots on the fly", can combine both controlled mobility and SERS sensing capacity, and are ideal for versatile in situ detection. In this work, mobile SERS sensors are successfully fabricated by growing gold nanospikes onto magnetic microsphere surfaces. These mobile micromotors can act as normal SERS sensors, characterized by the trace detection of thiram, a highly toxic fungicide. The detection limit can reach 0.1 nM, as good as most other noble metal deposited substrates. With significant magnetic gradient forces, separation of pathogenic bacteria from bulk solution is achieved once these magnetic micromotors bind with bacterial cells. Manipulated propulsion of micromotors, on the other hand, enables them to approach and contact pathogenic bacterial cells on command and further acquire Raman spectra under a controlled degree of contact, a capability never seen with passive sensors. The robotic SERS sensors have demonstrated unique sensing characteristics with controlled manipulations along with discriminative detection between bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Yang
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Jianping Zhou
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Yongkang Wang
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Ben Fan
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Jing Qiao
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Lixiang Chen
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Lingxiang Guo
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Quan Li
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
- Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
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3
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van Kesteren S, Diethelm P, Jung SH, Isa L. DNA-Based Replication of Programmable Colloidal Assemblies. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2400180. [PMID: 38693098 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Nature uses replication to amplify the information necessary for the intricate structures vital for life. Despite some successes with pure nucleotide structures, constructing synthetic microscale systems capable of replication remains largely out of reach. Here, a functioning strategy is shown for the replication of microscale particle assemblies using DNA-coated colloids. By positioning DNA-functionalized colloids using capillary forces and embedding them into a polymer layer, programmable sequences of patchy particles are created that act as a primer and offer precise binding of complementary particles from suspension. The strings of complementary colloids are cross-linked, released from the primer, and purified via flow cytometric sorting to achieve a purity of up to 81% of the replicated sequences. The replication of strings of up to five colloids and non-linear shapes is demonstrated with particles of different sizes and materials. Furthermore, a pathway for exponential self-replication is outlined, including preliminary data that shows the transfer of patches and binding of a second-generation of assemblies from suspension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven van Kesteren
- Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Diethelm
- Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Se-Hyeong Jung
- Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Lucio Isa
- Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
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4
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Sánchez PA, Cerrato A, Cerdà JJ, Bona-Casas C, Sintes T, Massó J. Dynamic response of a ferromagnetic nanofilament under rotating fields: effects of flexibility, thermal fluctuations and hydrodynamics. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:11724-11738. [PMID: 38864189 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr01034e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Using nonequilibrium computer simulations, we study the response of ferromagnetic nanofilaments, consisting of stabilized one dimensional chains of ferromagnetic nanoparticles, under external rotating magnetic fields. In difference with their analogous microscale and stiff counterparts, which have been actively studied in recent years, nonequilibrium properties of rather flexible nanoparticle filaments remain mostly unexplored. By progressively increasing the modeling details, we are able to evidence the qualitative impact of main interactions that can not be neglected at the nanoscale, showing that filament flexibility, thermal fluctuations and hydrodynamic interactions contribute independently to broaden the range of synchronous frequency response in this system. Furthermore, we also show the existence of a limited set of characteristic dynamic filament configurations and discuss in detail the asynchronous response, which at finite temperature becomes probabilistic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro A Sánchez
- Physics Department, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain.
| | - Antonio Cerrato
- Physics Department, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain.
| | - Joan J Cerdà
- Physics Department, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain.
| | - Carles Bona-Casas
- Physics Department, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain.
| | - Tomás Sintes
- Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos, IFISC (UIB-CSIC), University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain
| | - Joan Massó
- Physics Department, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain.
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5
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Liu Y, Huang J, Liu C, Song Z, Wu J, Zhao Q, Li Y, Dong F, Wang L, Xu H. Soft Millirobot Capable of Switching Motion Modes on the Fly for Targeted Drug Delivery in the Oviduct. ACS NANO 2024; 18:8694-8705. [PMID: 38466230 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Small-scale magnetic robots with fixed magnetizations have limited locomotion modes, restricting their applications in complex environments in vivo. Here we present a morphology-reconfigurable millirobot that can switch the locomotion modes locally by reprogramming its magnetizations during navigation, in response to distinct magnetic field patterns. By continuously switching its locomotion modes between the high-velocity rigid motion and high-adaptability soft actuation, the millirobot efficiently navigates in small lumens with intricate internal structures and complex surface topographies. As demonstrations, the millirobot performs multimodal locomotion including woodlouse-like rolling and flipping, sperm-like rotating, and snake-like gliding to negotiate different terrains, including the unrestricted channel and high platform, narrow channel, and solid-liquid interface, respectively. Finally, we demonstrate the drug delivery capability of the millirobot through the oviduct-mimicking phantom and ex vivo oviduct. The magnetization reprogramming strategy during navigation represents a promising approach for developing self-adaptive robots for performing complex tasks in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, P. R. China, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, P. R. China, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Department of Polymer Materials and Engineering, College of Materials and Metallurgy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Chu Liu
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, P. R. China, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhongyi Song
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, P. R. China, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jiandong Wu
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, P. R. China, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qilong Zhao
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, P. R. China, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yingtian Li
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, P. R. China, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Fuping Dong
- Department of Polymer Materials and Engineering, College of Materials and Metallurgy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, P. R. China, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Haifeng Xu
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, P. R. China, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen 518055, China
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6
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Blanc B, Agyapong JN, Hunter I, Galas JC, Fernandez-Nieves A, Fraden S. Collective chemomechanical oscillations in active hydrogels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2313258121. [PMID: 38300869 PMCID: PMC10861864 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313258121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
We report on the collective response of an assembly of chemomechanical Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) hydrogel beads. We first demonstrate that a single isolated spherical BZ hydrogel bead with a radius below a critical value does not oscillate, whereas an assembly of the same BZ hydrogel beads presents chemical oscillation. A BZ chemical model with an additional flux of chemicals out of the BZ hydrogel captures the experimentally observed transition from oxidized nonoscillating to oscillating BZ hydrogels and shows this transition is due to a flux of inhibitors out of the BZ hydrogel. The model also captures the role of neighboring BZ hydrogel beads in decreasing the critical size for an assembly of BZ hydrogel beads to oscillate. We finally leverage the quorum sensing behavior of the collective to trigger their chemomechanical oscillation and discuss how this collective effect can be used to enhance the oscillatory strain of these active BZ hydrogels. These findings could help guide the eventual fabrication of a swarm of autonomous, communicating, and motile hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Blanc
- Laboratoire Jean Perrin, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), Paris75005, France
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona08028, Spain
- Department of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02454
| | - Johnson N. Agyapong
- Department of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02454
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY13244
| | - Ian Hunter
- Department of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02454
| | - Jean-Christophe Galas
- Laboratoire Jean Perrin, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), Paris75005, France
| | - Alberto Fernandez-Nieves
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona08028, Spain
- Institute of Complex Systems, University of Barcelona, Barcelona08028, Spain
- Institució Catalanade Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona08010, Spain
| | - Seth Fraden
- Department of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02454
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7
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Wang X, Sprinkle B, Bisoyi HK, Yang T, Chen L, Huang S, Li Q. Colloidal tubular microrobots for cargo transport and compression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2304685120. [PMID: 37669384 PMCID: PMC10500282 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304685120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Microrobot swarms have seen increased interest in recent years due to their potentials for in vivo delivery and imaging with cooperative propulsion modes and enhanced imaging signals. Yet most swarms developed so far are limited to dense particle aggregates, far simpler than complicated three-dimensional assemblies of anisotropic particles. Here, we show via assembly path design that complex hollow tubular structures can be assembled from simple isotropic colloidal spheres and those complicated, metastable, microtubes can be formed from simple, energetically favorable colloidal membranes. The assembled microtubes can remain intact and roll under a precessing magnetic field, with propulsion directions and velocities precisely controlled by field components. The hollow spaces inside enable these tubular microrobots to grab, transport, and release cargos on command. We also demonstrate unique compressing and uncompressing capabilities with our tubular microrobots, making them effective microtweezers. Our work shows that complicated microrobots can be transformed from simple assemblies, providing an insight on building micromachines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Wang
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing211189, China
| | - Brennan Sprinkle
- Department of Mathematics, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO80401
| | - Hari Krishna Bisoyi
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH44242
| | - Tao Yang
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing211189, China
| | - Lixiang Chen
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing211189, China
| | - Shuai Huang
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing211189, China
| | - Quan Li
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing211189, China
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH44242
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8
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Lyu D, Xu W, Zhou N, Duan W, Wang Z, Mu Y, Zhou R, Wang Y. Biomimetic thermoresponsive superstructures by colloidal soft-and-hard co-assembly. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh2250. [PMID: 37390212 PMCID: PMC10313167 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh2250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Soft-and-hard hybrid structures are ubiquitous in biological systems and have inspired the design of man-made mechanical devices, actuators, and robots. The realization of these structures, however, has been challenging at microscale, where material integration and actuation become exceedingly less practical. Here, through simple colloidal assembly, we create microscale superstructures consisting of soft and hard materials, which, serving as microactuators, have thermoresponsive shape-transforming properties. In this case, anisotropic metal-organic framework (MOF) particles as the hard components are integrated with liquid droplets, forming spine-mimicking colloidal chains via valence-limited assembly. The chains, with alternating soft and hard segments, are referred to as MicroSpine and can reversibly change shape, switching between straight and curved states through a thermoresponsive swelling/deswelling mechanism. By solidification of the liquid parts within a chain with prescribed patterns, we design various chain morphologies, such as "colloidal arms," with controlled actuating behaviors. The chains are further used to build colloidal capsules, which encapsulate and release guests by the temperature-programmed actuation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengping Lyu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nansen Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wendi Duan
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zhisheng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yijiang Mu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Renjie Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yufeng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
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9
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Goychuk A, Kannan D, Chakraborty AK, Kardar M. Polymer folding through active processes recreates features of genome organization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221726120. [PMID: 37155885 PMCID: PMC10194017 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221726120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
From proteins to chromosomes, polymers fold into specific conformations that control their biological function. Polymer folding has long been studied with equilibrium thermodynamics, yet intracellular organization and regulation involve energy-consuming, active processes. Signatures of activity have been measured in the context of chromatin motion, which shows spatial correlations and enhanced subdiffusion only in the presence of adenosine triphosphate. Moreover, chromatin motion varies with genomic coordinate, pointing toward a heterogeneous pattern of active processes along the sequence. How do such patterns of activity affect the conformation of a polymer such as chromatin? We address this question by combining analytical theory and simulations to study a polymer subjected to sequence-dependent correlated active forces. Our analysis shows that a local increase in activity (larger active forces) can cause the polymer backbone to bend and expand, while less active segments straighten out and condense. Our simulations further predict that modest activity differences can drive compartmentalization of the polymer consistent with the patterns observed in chromosome conformation capture experiments. Moreover, segments of the polymer that show correlated active (sub)diffusion attract each other through effective long-ranged harmonic interactions, whereas anticorrelations lead to effective repulsions. Thus, our theory offers nonequilibrium mechanisms for forming genomic compartments, which cannot be distinguished from affinity-based folding using structural data alone. As a first step toward exploring whether active mechanisms contribute to shaping genome conformations, we discuss a data-driven approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andriy Goychuk
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Deepti Kannan
- Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Arup K. Chakraborty
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02139
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Mehran Kardar
- Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
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10
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Gao Y, Sprinkle B, Springer E, Marr DW, Wu N. Rolling of soft microbots with tunable traction. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg0919. [PMID: 37083533 PMCID: PMC10121164 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg0919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microbot (μbot)-based targeted drug delivery has attracted increasing attention due to its potential for avoiding side effects associated with systemic delivery. To date, most μbots are rigid. When rolling on surfaces, they exhibit substantial slip due to the liquid lubrication layer. Here, we introduce magnetically controlled soft rollers based on Pickering emulsions that, because of their intrinsic deformability, fundamentally change the nature of the lubrication layer and roll like deflated tires. With a large contact area between μbot and wall, soft μbots exhibit tractions higher than their rigid counterparts, results that we support with both theory and simulation. Upon changing the external field, surface particles can be reconfigured, strongly influencing both the translation speed and traction. These μbots can also be destabilized upon pH changes and used to deliver their contents to a desired location, overcoming the limitations of low translation efficiency and drug loading capacity associated with rigid structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Gao
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Brennan Sprinkle
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Ela Springer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
| | - David W. M. Marr
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
- Corresponding author. (D.W.M.M.); (N.W.)
| | - Ning Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
- Corresponding author. (D.W.M.M.); (N.W.)
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11
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Basu A, Okello LB, Castellanos N, Roh S, Velev OD. Assembly and manipulation of responsive and flexible colloidal structures by magnetic and capillary interactions. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:2466-2485. [PMID: 36946137 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00090g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The long-ranged interactions induced by magnetic fields and capillary forces in multiphasic fluid-particle systems facilitate the assembly of a rich variety of colloidal structures and materials. We review here the diverse structures assembled from isotropic and anisotropic particles by independently or jointly using magnetic and capillary interactions. The use of magnetic fields is one of the most efficient means of assembling and manipulating paramagnetic particles. By tuning the field strength and configuration or by changing the particle characteristics, the magnetic interactions, dynamics, and responsiveness of the assemblies can be precisely controlled. Concurrently, the capillary forces originating at the fluid-fluid interfaces can serve as means of reconfigurable binding in soft matter systems, such as Pickering emulsions, novel responsive capillary gels, and composites for 3D printing. We further discuss how magnetic forces can be used as an auxiliary parameter along with the capillary forces to assemble particles at fluid interfaces or in the bulk. Finally, we present examples how these interactions can be used jointly in magnetically responsive foams, gels, and pastes for 3D printing. The multiphasic particle gels for 3D printing open new opportunities for making of magnetically reconfigurable and "active" structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhirup Basu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Lilian B Okello
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Natasha Castellanos
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Sangchul Roh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Orlin D Velev
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
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12
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Spatafora-Salazar A, Kuei S, Cunha LHP, Biswal SL. Coiling of semiflexible paramagnetic colloidal chains. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:2385-2396. [PMID: 36920868 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00066d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Semiflexible filaments deform into a variety of configurations that dictate different phenomena manifesting at low Reynolds number. Harnessing the elasticity of these filaments to perform transport-related processes at the microfluidic scale requires structures that can be directly manipulated to attain controllable geometric features during their deformation. The configuration of semiflexible chains assembled from paramagnetic colloids can be readily controlled upon the application of external time-varying magnetic fields. In circularly rotating magnetic fields, these chains undergo coiling dynamics in which their ends close into loops that wrap inward, analogous to the curling of long nylon filaments under shear. The coiling is promising for the precise loading and targeted transport of small materials, however effective implementation requires an understanding of the role that field parameters and chain properties play on the coiling features. Here, we investigate the formation of coils in semiflexible paramagnetic chains using numerical simulations. We demonstrate that the size and shape of the initial coils are governed by the Mason and elastoviscous numbers, related to the field parameters and the chain bending stiffness. The size of the initial coil follows a nonmonotonic behavior with Mason number from which two regions are identified: (1) an elasticity-dependent nonlinear regime in which the coil size decreases with increasing field strength and for which loop shape tends to be circular, and (2) an elasticity-independent linear regime where the size increases with field strength and the shape become more elliptical. From the time scales associated to these regimes, we identify distinct coiling mechanisms for each case that relate the coiling dynamics to two other configurational dynamics of paramagnetic chains: wagging and folding behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Spatafora-Salazar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
| | - Steve Kuei
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
| | - Lucas H P Cunha
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
| | - Sibani Lisa Biswal
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
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13
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Dhatt-Gauthier K, Livitz D, Wu Y, Bishop KJM. Accelerating the Design of Self-Guided Microrobots in Time-Varying Magnetic Fields. JACS AU 2023; 3:611-627. [PMID: 37006772 PMCID: PMC10052236 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Mobile robots combine sensory information with mechanical actuation to move autonomously through structured environments and perform specific tasks. The miniaturization of such robots to the size of living cells is actively pursued for applications in biomedicine, materials science, and environmental sustainability. Existing microrobots based on field-driven particles rely on knowledge of the particle position and the target destination to control particle motion through fluid environments. Often, however, these external control strategies are challenged by limited information and global actuation where a common field directs multiple robots with unknown positions. In this Perspective, we discuss how time-varying magnetic fields can be used to encode the self-guided behaviors of magnetic particles conditioned on local environmental cues. Programming these behaviors is framed as a design problem: we seek to identify the design variables (e.g., particle shape, magnetization, elasticity, stimuli-response) that achieve the desired performance in a given environment. We discuss strategies for accelerating the design process using automated experiments, computational models, statistical inference, and machine learning approaches. Based on the current understanding of field-driven particle dynamics and existing capabilities for particle fabrication and actuation, we argue that self-guided microrobots with potentially transformative capabilities are close at hand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Dhatt-Gauthier
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Dimitri Livitz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Yiyang Wu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Kyle J. M. Bishop
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
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14
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Haque MA, Zhu X, Uyanga N, Wu N. Propulsion of Homonuclear Colloidal Chains Based on Orientation Control under Combined Electric and Magnetic Fields. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:2751-2760. [PMID: 36745581 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The remarkable efficiency and dynamics of micromachines in living organisms have inspired researchers to make artificial microrobots for targeted drug delivery, chemical sensing, cargo transport, and waste remediation applications. While several self- and directed-propulsion mechanisms have been discovered, the phoretic force has to be generated via either asymmetric surface functionalization or sophisticated geometric design of microrobots. As a result, many symmetric structures assembled from isotropic colloids are ruled out as viable microrobot possibilities. Here, we propose to utilize orientation control to actuate axially symmetric micro-objects with homogeneous surface properties, such as linear chains assembled from superparamagnetic microspheres. We demonstrate that the fore-and-aft symmetry of a horizontal chain can be broken by tilting it with an angle relative to the substrate under a two-dimensional magnetic field. A superimposed alternating current electric field propels the tilted chains. Our experiments and numerical simulation confirm that the electrohydrodynamic flow along the electrode is unbalanced surrounding the tilted chain, generating hydrodynamic stresses that both propel the chain and reorient it slightly toward the substrate. Our work takes advantage of external fields, where the magnetic field, as a driving wheel and brake, controls chain orientation and direction, while the electric field, as an engine, provides power for locomotion. Without the need to create complex-shaped micromotors with intricate building blocks, our work reveals a propulsion mechanism that breaks the symmetry of hydrodynamic flow by manipulating the orientation of a microscopic object.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Ashraful Haque
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Xingrui Zhu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Nomin Uyanga
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Ning Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
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15
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Zhang Z, Sukhov A, Harting J, Malgaretti P, Ahmed D. Rolling microswarms along acoustic virtual walls. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7347. [PMID: 36446799 PMCID: PMC9708833 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35078-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Rolling is a ubiquitous transport mode utilized by living organisms and engineered systems. However, rolling at the microscale has been constrained by the requirement of a physical boundary to break the spatial homogeneity of surrounding mediums, which limits its prospects for navigation to locations with no boundaries. Here, in the absence of real boundaries, we show that microswarms can execute rolling along virtual walls in liquids, impelled by a combination of magnetic and acoustic fields. A rotational magnetic field causes individual particles to self-assemble and rotate, while the pressure nodes of an acoustic standing wave field serve as virtual walls. The acoustic radiation force pushes the microswarms towards a virtual wall and provides the reaction force needed to break their fore-aft motion symmetry and induce rolling along arbitrary trajectories. The concept of reconfigurable virtual walls overcomes the fundamental limitation of a physical boundary being required for universal rolling movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Zhang
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Acoustic Robotics Systems Laboratory, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8803 Switzerland
| | - Alexander Sukhov
- grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XHelmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Erlangen, 91058 Germany
| | - Jens Harting
- grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XHelmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Erlangen, 91058 Germany ,grid.5330.50000 0001 2107 3311Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nuremberg, 90429 Germany
| | - Paolo Malgaretti
- grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XHelmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Erlangen, 91058 Germany
| | - Daniel Ahmed
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Acoustic Robotics Systems Laboratory, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8803 Switzerland
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16
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Al Harraq A, Bello M, Bharti B. A guide to design the trajectory of active particles: From fundamentals to applications. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2022.101612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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17
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Wang Z, Mu Y, Lyu D, Wu M, Li J, Wang Z, Wang Y. Engineering Shapes of Active Colloids for Tunable Dynamics. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2022.101608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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18
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Mhanna R, Gao Y, Van Tol I, Springer E, Wu N, Marr DWM. Chain Assembly Kinetics from Magnetic Colloidal Spheres. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:5730-5737. [PMID: 35486385 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic colloidal chains are a microrobotic system with promising applications due to their versatility, biocompatibility, and ease of manipulation under magnetic fields. Their synthesis involves kinetic pathways that control chain quality, length, and flexibility, a process performed by first aligning superparamagnetic particles under a one-dimensional magnetic field and then chemically linking them using a four-armed maleimide-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol). Here, we systematically vary the concentration of the poly(ethylene glycol) linkers, the reaction temperature, and the magnetic field strength to study their impact on the physical properties of synthesized chains, including the chain length distribution, reaction temperature, and bending modulus. We find that this chain fabrication process resembles step-growth polymerization and can be accurately described by the Flory-Schulz model. Under optimized experimental conditions, we have successfully synthesized long flexible colloidal chains with a bending modulus, which is 4 orders of magnitude smaller than previous studies. Such flexible and long chains can be folded entirely into concentric rings and helices with multiple turns, demonstrating the potential for investigating the actuation, assembly, and folding behaviors of these colloidal polymer analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Mhanna
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Yan Gao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Isaac Van Tol
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Ela Springer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Ning Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - David W M Marr
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
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19
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Multimodal microwheel swarms for targeting in three-dimensional networks. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5078. [PMID: 35332242 PMCID: PMC8948265 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09177-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Microscale bots intended for targeted drug delivery must move through three-dimensional (3D) environments that include bifurcations, inclined surfaces, and curvature. In previous studies, we have shown that magnetically actuated colloidal microwheels (µwheels) reversibly assembled from superparamagnetic beads can translate rapidly and be readily directed. Here we show that, at high concentrations, µwheels assemble into swarms that, depending on applied magnetic field actuation patterns, can be designed to transport cargo, climb steep inclines, spread over large areas, or provide mechanical action. We test the ability of these multimodal swarms to navigate through complex, inclined microenvironments by characterizing the translation and dispersion of individual µwheels and swarms of µwheels on steeply inclined and flat surfaces. Swarms are then studied within branching 3D vascular models with multiple turns where good targeting efficiencies are achieved over centimeter length scales. With this approach, we present a readily reconfigurable swarm platform capable of navigating through 3D microenvironments.
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20
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Abstract
Suspensions of colloids driven out-of-equilibrium demonstrate interesting collective behavior, such as organized and directed clustering and swarming. These systems require continuous energy input, yet some of the dynamics of these driven systems resemble the equilibrium-phase behavior of molecular fluids, such as crystallization, condensation, and phase separation. Consequently, there has been significant interest in exploring the applicability of thermodynamic concepts, such as pressure and surface tension, to describe nonequilibrium phenomena. Here, we show how rotating magnetic fields can drive superparamagnetic particles to form steady-state vapor–liquid coexistence that can be analyzed with Kelvin’s equation to determine an “effective vapor pressure” for this active colloidal system. These results illustrate the convergence of statistical physics of simple liquids to nonequilibrium colloidal fluids. Vapor pressure refers to the pressure exerted by the vapor phase in thermodynamic equilibrium with either its liquid or solid phase. An important class of active matter is field-driven colloids. A suspension of dipolar colloids placed in a high-frequency rotating magnetic field undergoes a nonequilibrium phase transition into a dilute and dense phase, akin to liquid–vapor coexistence in a simple fluid. Here, we compute the vapor pressure of this colloidal fluid. The number of particles that exist as the dilute bulk phase versus condensed cluster phases can be directly visualized. An exponential relationship between vapor pressure and effective temperature is determined as a function of applied field strength, analogous to the thermodynamic expression between vapor pressure and temperature found for pure liquids. Additionally, we demonstrate the applicability of Kelvin’s equation to this field-driven system. In principle, this appears to be in conflict with macroscopic thermodynamic assumptions due to the nonequilibrium and discrete nature of this colloidal system. However, the curvature of the vapor–liquid interface provides a mechanical equilibrium characterized by interfacial tension that connects the condensed clusters observed with these active fluids to classical colligative fluid properties.
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21
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Harraq A, Choudhury BD, Bharti B. Field-Induced Assembly and Propulsion of Colloids. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:3001-3016. [PMID: 35238204 PMCID: PMC8928473 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Electric and magnetic fields have enabled both technological applications and fundamental discoveries in the areas of bottom-up material synthesis, dynamic phase transitions, and biophysics of living matter. Electric and magnetic fields are versatile external sources of energy that power the assembly and self-propulsion of colloidal particles. In this Invited Feature Article, we classify the mechanisms by which external fields impact the structure and dynamics in colloidal dispersions and augment their nonequilibrium behavior. The paper is purposely intended to highlight the similarities between electrically and magnetically actuated phenomena, providing a brief treatment of the origin of the two fields to understand the intrinsic analogies and differences. We survey the progress made in the static and dynamic assembly of colloids and the self-propulsion of active particles. Recent reports of assembly-driven propulsion and propulsion-driven assembly have blurred the conceptual boundaries and suggest an evolution in the research of nonequilibrium colloidal materials. We highlight the emergence of colloids powered by external fields as model systems to understand living matter and provide a perspective on future challenges in the area of field-induced colloidal phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed
Al Harraq
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Brishty Deb Choudhury
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Bhuvnesh Bharti
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
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22
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Spatafora-Salazar A, Cunha LHP, Biswal SL. Periodic deformation of semiflexible colloidal chains in eccentric time-varying magnetic fields. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2022; 34:184005. [PMID: 35139504 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ac533a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Elastic filaments driven out of equilibrium display complex phenomena that involve periodic changes in their shape. Here, the periodic deformation dynamics of semiflexible colloidal chains in an eccentric magnetic field are presented. This field changes both its magnitude and direction with time, leading to novel nonequilibrium chain structures. Deformation into S-, Z-, and 4-mode shapes arises via the propagation and growth of bending waves. Transitions between these morphologies are governed by an interplay among magnetic, viscous, and elastic forces. Furthermore, the periodic behavior leading to these structures is described by four distinct stages of motion that include rotation, arrest, bending, and stretching of the chain. These stages correspond to specific intervals of the eccentric field's period. A scaling analysis that considers the relative ratio of viscous to magnetic torques via a critical frequency illustrates how to maximize the bending energy. These results provide new insights into controlling colloidal assemblies by applying complex magnetic fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Spatafora-Salazar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
| | - Lucas H P Cunha
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America
| | - Sibani Lisa Biswal
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
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23
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Disharoon D, Trewyn BG, Herson PS, Marr DW, Neeves KB. Breaking the fibrinolytic speed limit with microwheel co-delivery of tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen. J Thromb Haemost 2022; 20:486-497. [PMID: 34882946 PMCID: PMC8792280 DOI: 10.1111/jth.15617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To reestablish blood flow in vessels occluded by clots, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can be used; however, its efficacy is limited by transport to and into a clot and by the depletion of its substrate, plasminogen. OBJECTIVES To overcome these rate limitations, a platform was designed to co-deliver tPA and plasminogen based on microwheels (µwheels), wheel-like assemblies of superparamagnetic colloidal beads that roll along surfaces at high speeds. METHODS The biochemical speed limit was determined by measuring fibrinolysis of plasma clots at varying concentrations of tPA (10-800 nM) and plasminogen (1-6 µM). Biotinylated magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles were synthesized and bound to streptavidin-coated superparamagnetic beads to make studded beads. Studded beads were loaded with plasminogen and tPA was immobilized on their surface. Plasminogen release and tPA activity were measured on the studded beads. Studded beads were assembled into µwheels with rotating magnetic fields and fibrinolysis of plasma clots was measured in a microfluidic device. RESULTS The biochemical speed limit for plasma clots was ~15 µm/min. Plasminogen-loaded, tPA-immobilized µwheels lyse plasma clots at rates comparableto the biochemical speed limit. With the addition of a corkscrew motion, µwheels penetrate clots, thereby exceeding the biochemical speed limit (~20 µm/min) and achieving lysis rates 40-fold higher than 50 nM tPA. CONCLUSIONS Co-delivery of an immobilized enzyme and its substrate via a microbot capable of mechanical work has the potential to target and rapidly lyse clots that are inaccessible by mechanical thrombectomy devices or recalcitrant to systemic tPA delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dante Disharoon
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States
| | - Brian G. Trewyn
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States
| | - Paco S. Herson
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Denver ∣ Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, United States
| | - David W.M. Marr
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States
| | - Keith B. Neeves
- Departments of Bioengineering and Pediatrics, Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, University of Colorado Denver ∣ Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
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24
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Tanjeem N, Minnis MB, Hayward RC, Shields CW. Shape-Changing Particles: From Materials Design and Mechanisms to Implementation. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2105758. [PMID: 34741359 PMCID: PMC9579005 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202105758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Demands for next-generation soft and responsive materials have sparked recent interest in the development of shape-changing particles and particle assemblies. Over the last two decades, a variety of mechanisms that drive shape change have been explored and integrated into particulate systems. Through a combination of top-down fabrication and bottom-up synthesis techniques, shape-morphing capabilities extend from the microscale to the nanoscale. Consequently, shape-morphing particles are rapidly emerging in a variety of contexts, including photonics, microfluidics, microrobotics, and biomedicine. Herein, the key mechanisms and materials that facilitate shape changes of microscale and nanoscale particles are discussed. Recent progress in the applications made possible by these particles is summarized, and perspectives on their promise and key open challenges in the field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabila Tanjeem
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Montana B Minnis
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Ryan C Hayward
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Charles Wyatt Shields
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
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25
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Biswas B, Mitra D, Kp F, Bhat S, Chatterji A, Kumaraswamy G. Rigidity Dictates Spontaneous Helix Formation of Thermoresponsive Colloidal Chains in Poor Solvent. ACS NANO 2021; 15:19702-19711. [PMID: 34890180 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c07048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The formation of helical motifs typically requires specific directional interactions. Here, we demonstrate that isotropic interparticle attraction can drive self-assembly of colloidal chains into thermo-reversible helices, for chains with a critical level of backbone rigidity. We prepare thermoresponsive colloidal chains by cross-linking PNIPAM microgel-coated polystyrene colloids ("monomers"), aligned in an AC electric field. We control the chain rigidity by varying cross-linking time. Above the LCST of PNIPAM, there is an effective attraction between monomers so that the colloidal chains are in a bad solvent. On heating, the chains decrease in size. For the most rigid chains, the decrease is modest and is not accompanied by a change in shape. Much less rigid chains form relatively compact structures, resulting in a large increase in the local monomer density. Unusually, chains with intermediate rigidity spontaneously assemble into helical structures. The chain helicity increases with temperature and plateaus above the collapse transition temperature of the microgel particles. We simulate a minimal model that captures the spontaneous emergence of the helical conformations of the polymeric chain and provides insight into this shape transition. Our work suggests that a purely mechanical instability for semiflexible filaments can drive helix formation, without the need to invoke directional interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bipul Biswas
- PSE Division, CSIR-NCL Pune, Dr. Homi Bhaba Road, Pune 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Debarshi Mitra
- Department of Physics, IISER-Pune, Dr. Homi Bhaba Road, Pune 411008, India
| | - Fayis Kp
- PSE Division, CSIR-NCL Pune, Dr. Homi Bhaba Road, Pune 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Suresh Bhat
- PSE Division, CSIR-NCL Pune, Dr. Homi Bhaba Road, Pune 411008, India
| | - Apratim Chatterji
- Department of Physics, IISER-Pune, Dr. Homi Bhaba Road, Pune 411008, India
- Center for Energy Science, IISER-Pune, Dr. Homi Bhaba Road, Pune 411008, India
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26
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Joh H, Fan DE. Materials and Schemes of Multimodal Reconfigurable Micro/Nanomachines and Robots: Review and Perspective. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2101965. [PMID: 34410023 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202101965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mechanically programmable, reconfigurable micro/nanoscale materials that can dynamically change their mechanical properties or behaviors, or morph into distinct assemblies or swarms in response to stimuli have greatly piqued the interest of the science community due to their unprecedented potentials in both fundamental research and technological applications. To date, a variety of designs of hard and soft materials, as well as actuation schemes based on mechanisms including chemical reactions and magnetic, acoustic, optical, and electric stimuli, have been reported. Herein, state-of-the-art micro/nanostructures and operation schemes for multimodal reconfigurable micro/nanomachines and swarms, as well as potential new materials and working principles, challenges, and future perspectives are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyungmok Joh
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Donglei Emma Fan
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
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27
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Alvarez L, Fernandez-Rodriguez MA, Alegria A, Arrese-Igor S, Zhao K, Kröger M, Isa L. Reconfigurable artificial microswimmers with internal feedback. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4762. [PMID: 34362934 PMCID: PMC8346629 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25108-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-propelling microparticles are often proposed as synthetic models for biological microswimmers, yet they lack the internally regulated adaptation of their biological counterparts. Conversely, adaptation can be encoded in larger-scale soft-robotic devices but remains elusive to transfer to the colloidal scale. Here, we create responsive microswimmers, powered by electro-hydrodynamic flows, which can adapt their motility via internal reconfiguration. Using sequential capillary assembly, we fabricate deterministic colloidal clusters comprising soft thermo-responsive microgels and light-absorbing particles. Light absorption induces preferential local heating and triggers the volume phase transition of the microgels, leading to an adaptation of the clusters' motility, which is orthogonal to their propulsion scheme. We rationalize this response via the coupling between self-propulsion and variations of particle shape and dielectric properties upon heating. Harnessing such coupling allows for strategies to achieve local dynamical control with simple illumination patterns, revealing exciting opportunities for developing tactic active materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Alvarez
- Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - M A Fernandez-Rodriguez
- Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Biocolloid and Fluid Physics Group, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - A Alegria
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU), Materials Physics Center, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - S Arrese-Igor
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU), Materials Physics Center, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - K Zhao
- Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Kröger
- Polymer Physics, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lucio Isa
- Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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28
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Ji F, Liu WS, Yang L, Xu T, Wu X, Zhang L. On-Demand Assembly and Disassembly of a 3D Swimming Magnetic Mini-Propeller With Two Modules. IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2021. [DOI: 10.1109/lra.2021.3086670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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29
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Spatafora-Salazar A, Lobmeyer DM, Cunha LHP, Joshi K, Biswal SL. Hierarchical assemblies of superparamagnetic colloids in time-varying magnetic fields. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:1120-1155. [PMID: 33492321 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01878c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Magnetically-guided colloidal assembly has proven to be a versatile method for building hierarchical particle assemblies. This review describes the dipolar interactions that govern superparamagnetic colloids in time-varying magnetic fields, and how such interactions have guided colloidal assembly into materials with increasing complexity that display novel dynamics. The assembly process is driven by magnetic dipole-dipole interactions, whose strength can be tuned to be attractive or repulsive. Generally, these interactions are directional in static external magnetic fields. More recently, time-varying magnetic fields have been utilized to generate dipolar interactions that vary in both time and space, allowing particle interactions to be tuned from anisotropic to isotropic. These interactions guide the dynamics of hierarchical assemblies of 1-D chains, 2-D networks, and 2-D clusters in both static and time-varying fields. Specifically, unlinked and chemically-linked colloidal chains exhibit complex dynamics, such as fragmentation, buckling, coiling, and wagging phenomena. 2-D networks exhibit controlled porosity and interesting coarsening dynamics. Finally, 2-D clusters have shown to be an ideal model system for exploring phenomena related to statistical thermodynamics. This review provides recent advances in this fast-growing field with a focus on its scientific potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Spatafora-Salazar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
| | - Dana M Lobmeyer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
| | - Lucas H P Cunha
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
| | - Kedar Joshi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
| | - Sibani Lisa Biswal
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
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