Abstract
Biological systems control ambient fluids through the self-organization of active protein structures, including flagella, cilia, and cytoskeletal networks. Self-organization of protein components enables the control and modulation of fluid flow fields on micron scales, however, the physical principles underlying the organization and control of active-matter-driven fluid flows are poorly understood. Here, we use an optically-controlled active-matter system composed of microtubule filaments and light-switchable kinesin motor proteins to analyze the emergence of persistent flow fields. Using light, we form contractile microtubule networks of varying size and shape, and demonstrate that the geometry of microtubule flux at the corners of contracting microtubule networks predicts the architecture of fluid flow fields across network geometries through a simple point force model. Our work provides a foundation for programming microscopic fluid flows with controllable active matter and could enable the engineering of versatile and dynamic microfluidic devices.
Highlights
Biological systems control ambient fluids through the self-organization of active protein structures, including flagella, cilia, and cytoskeletal networks
By using light to modulate the geometry of microtubule-motor networks, we demonstrate that self-organized flow fields emerge through dynamic feedback between microtubule network contraction and fluid-driven mass transport
The engineered kinesin motor protein reversibly cross-link under illumination (Fig. 1a) inducing interactions between motors on neighboring microtubules leading to microtubule network formation, contraction, and the generation of persistent fluid flows
Summary
Biological systems control ambient fluids through the self-organization of active protein structures, including flagella, cilia, and cytoskeletal networks. We use an optically-controlled active-matter system composed of microtubule filaments and light-switchable kinesin motor proteins to analyze the emergence of persistent flow fields. Active matter systems composed of purified filament and motor proteins can generate nonequilibrium, self-organized structures, including microtubules asters,[12,13,14] that generate spontaneous fluid flows[10,15,16,17,18]. These fluid flows are typically disorganized and chaotic. Our results reveal a dynamic mechanism of fluid flow generation in active microtubule networks and provide a modeling framework to predict the flowfield architecture from an active matter-generated boundary condition
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
