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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 12, 2025

Forming, Confining, and Observing Microtubule-Based Active Nematics

Forming, Confining, and Observing Microtubule-Based Active Nematics

Published on: January 13, 2023

Forming, Confining, and Observing Microtubule-Based Active Nematics.

Fereshteh L Memarian¹, Dimitrius A Khaladj¹, Derek Hammar¹

¹Department of Physics, University of California.

Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove

|January 30, 2023

Summary

Researchers created active liquid crystals using biopolymers and molecular motors. These dynamic fluid systems form spontaneously with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and are essential for studying cell biology.

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Published on: July 11, 2025

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cell Biology
Soft Matter Physics

Background:

Active liquid crystals are emerging systems with self-driven subunits consuming energy locally.
These out-of-equilibrium dynamic fluids are crucial for understanding cell biology.
Biopolymer-based active phases offer novel research avenues.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe methods for forming active nematic phases using purified protein components.
To explore the spontaneous formation of active liquid crystals in the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
To detail techniques for confining active nematic phases for microscopy.

Main Methods:

Combining purified biopolymers (microtubules) and molecular motors (kinesin).
Inducing spontaneous active nematic phase formation using adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Utilizing two distinct methods: an oil-water interface and an elastomeric well under an oil layer.

Main Results:

Successful formation of an active nematic phase under specific conditions.
Demonstrated two distinct methods for assembling the active material.
Developed techniques for inserting the active material into various well geometries.

Conclusions:

Biopolymer-based active phases, particularly active nematics, are readily formed using microtubules and kinesin motors.
The described methods enable the study of these dynamic systems in confined geometries.
This work facilitates further exploration of active liquid crystals in cell biology and beyond.