Nonequilibrium self-assembly of multiple stored targets in a dimer-based system

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Biological self-assembly, such as microtubule formation, utilizes chemical potential gradients to achieve functional organization.
• Microtubules assemble from alpha- and beta-tubulin dimers, driven by GTPase activity, forming hollow cylinders.
• Understanding nonequilibrium self-assembly is crucial for designing functional materials and biological systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a generic lattice model for nonequilibrium self-assembly driven by a dimer-favoring force.
• To characterize how nonequilibrium drives influence the restoration of pre-encoded target structures.
• To compare the performance of nonequilibrium assembly with equilibrium scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Monte Carlo simulations were employed to model the self-assembly process.
• The system parameters investigated include initial seed size, interaction energy, chemical potential, number of target structures, and drive strength.
• The ability to restore target structures under varying nonequilibrium drive conditions was analyzed.

Main Results:

• The nonequilibrium drive demonstrated the ability to restore pre-encoded target structures.
• A smaller critical seed size was observed under nonequilibrium conditions compared to equilibrium.
• Enhanced stability of target assembly was achieved due to the nonequilibrium drive.

Conclusions:

• Nonequilibrium driving forces can overcome inherent equilibrium constraints in self-assembly processes.
• This research expands the theoretical framework for understanding and designing systems that exploit nonequilibrium self-assembly.
• The findings offer insights into controlling self-assembly for specific functional outcomes.