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Kinetics describes the rate and path by which a reaction occurs. In contrast, thermodynamics deals with state functions and describes the properties, behavior, and components of a system. It is not concerned with the path taken by the process and cannot address the rate at which a reaction occurs. Although it does provide information about what can happen during a reaction process, it does not describe the detailed steps of what appears on an atomic or a molecular level. On the other hand,...

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Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Taking Advantage of Reduced Droplet-surface Interaction to Optimize Transport of Bioanalytes in Digital Microfluidics

Taking Advantage of Reduced Droplet-surface Interaction to Optimize Transport of Bioanalytes in Digital Microfluidics

Published on: November 10, 2014

Control of encounter kinetics by chemically active droplets.

Jacques D Fries¹, Roxanne Berthin¹, Marie Jardat¹

¹Sorbonne Université, PHysicochimie des Électrolytes et Nanosystémes InterfaciauX, CNRS, PHENIX, Paris F-75005, France.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|December 2, 2025

Summary

Biomolecular condensates can speed up or slow down reactions. Chemical reactions within these droplets control their behavior and influence molecular interactions, impacting cellular processes.

Keywords:

active matter biophysics phase separation reaction kinetics

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Published on: November 10, 2014

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cell Biology
Chemical Kinetics

Background:

Biomolecular condensates are essential for cellular organization, formed via liquid-liquid phase separation.
Their function as nanoreactors is debated due to complex effects on reaction kinetics.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how chemically active condensates affect reaction rates.
To model the influence of nonequilibrium reactions on condensate properties and molecular encounters.

Main Methods:

Developed a microscopic, stochastic model for active droplets.
Utilized Brownian dynamics simulations to analyze phase separation, transport, and kinetics.
Incorporated reaction-driven modulation of protein interactions and free energy coupling.

Main Results:

Chemical drive intensity dictates surface dynamics and molecular fluxes.
Condensates can either accelerate or decelerate bimolecular reaction rates.
Phase separation and molecular transport are modulated by active processes.

Conclusions:

Biomolecular condensates' impact on reaction kinetics is complex and context-dependent.
Active chemical processes within condensates can regulate intracellular reaction rates.
Findings offer insights into condensate function beyond simple compartmentalization.