Recent experiments have shown how nematically ordered tactoid shaped actin droplets can be reorganized and divided by the action of myosin molecular motors. In this paper, we consider how similar morphological changes can potentially be achieved under equilibrium conditions. Using simulations, both atomistic and continuum, and a simple macroscopic model, we explore how the nucleation dynamics, shape changes, and the final steady state of a nematic tactoid droplet can be modified by interactions with model adhesive colloids that mimic a myosin motor cluster. We show how tactoid reorganization may occur in an equilibrium colloidal-nematic setting. We then suggest based on the simple macroscopic model how the simulation models may be extended to potentially stabilize divided tactoids.
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28 February 2020
Research Article|
February 25 2020
Nucleation and shape dynamics of model nematic tactoids around adhesive colloids
Nicholas B. Ludwig
;
Nicholas B. Ludwig
1
Department of Chemistry and The James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago
, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
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Kimberly L. Weirch
;
Kimberly L. Weirch
2
Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago
, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
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Eli Alster
;
Eli Alster
3
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University
, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
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Thomas A. Witten;
Thomas A. Witten
4
Department of Physics and The James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago
, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
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Margaret L. Gardel
;
Margaret L. Gardel
4
Department of Physics and The James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago
, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
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Kinjal Dasbiswas;
5
Department of Physics, University of California, Merced
, Merced, California 95343, USA
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Suriyanarayanan Vaikuntanathan
Suriyanarayanan Vaikuntanathan
b)
1
Department of Chemistry and The James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago
, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
b)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
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Nicholas B. Ludwig
1
Kimberly L. Weirch
2
Eli Alster
3
Thomas A. Witten
4
Margaret L. Gardel
4
Kinjal Dasbiswas
5
Suriyanarayanan Vaikuntanathan
1,b)
1
Department of Chemistry and The James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago
, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
2
Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago
, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
3
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University
, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
4
Department of Physics and The James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago
, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
5
Department of Physics, University of California, Merced
, Merced, California 95343, USA
a)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
b)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
J. Chem. Phys. 152, 084901 (2020)
Article history
Received:
December 10 2019
Accepted:
January 28 2020
Citation
Nicholas B. Ludwig, Kimberly L. Weirch, Eli Alster, Thomas A. Witten, Margaret L. Gardel, Kinjal Dasbiswas, Suriyanarayanan Vaikuntanathan; Nucleation and shape dynamics of model nematic tactoids around adhesive colloids. J. Chem. Phys. 28 February 2020; 152 (8): 084901. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5141997
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