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Flexural Rigidity Measurements of Biopolymers Using Gliding Assays
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Collective behavior of "flexicles".

Philipp W A Schönhöfer1, Sharon C Glotzer1,2

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|September 4, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Synthetic active microparticles, called flexicles, mimic biological cells. Their shape changes during collisions lead to collective behaviors like spontaneous flow, paving the way for designing responsive micro-robots.

Keywords:
active mattercolloidsmolecular dynamicsmotility-induced phase separationswarming

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Area of Science:

  • Soft matter physics
  • Active matter systems
  • Colloidal science

Background:

  • Synthetic active microparticles increasingly mimic biological counterparts.
  • Understanding autonomous behavior in microscale systems remains a challenge.
  • Bridging the gap between synthetic and biological active matter is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To model and investigate a deformable cellular composite particle, termed a "flexicle."
  • To explore the collective behavior of dense flexicle systems using simulations.
  • To understand how particle deformability influences active matter dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a 3D deformable cellular composite particle model (flexicle).
  • Incorporation of self-propelled rod-shaped colloids within a flexible vesicle.
  • Utilizing molecular dynamics simulations to study flexicle systems.

Main Results:

  • Flexicles exhibit shape changes upon inter-particle collisions, altering internal rod dynamics.
  • Collision-induced shape deformability leads to slower flexicle motion.
  • Observed motility-induced phase separation and spontaneous collective flow phenomena.
  • Demonstrated emergent behaviors analogous to cell migration in dense tissues.

Conclusions:

  • Flexicle deformability is key to emergent collective behaviors in active matter.
  • Findings provide a foundation for designing responsive, cell-like active particles.
  • Potential for controlling swarm migration and autonomous behaviors at micro/colloidal scales.