Phase field model for viscous inclusions in anisotropic networks
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arXiv
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| Autori principali: | , , , |
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| Natura: | Preprint |
| Pubblicazione: |
2025
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| _version_ | 1866911037843832832 |
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| author | Gubbala, Aakanksha Jena, Anika M. Arnold, Daniel P. Takatori, Sho C. |
| author_facet | Gubbala, Aakanksha Jena, Anika M. Arnold, Daniel P. Takatori, Sho C. |
| contents | The growth of viscous two-dimensional lipid domains in contact with a viscoelastic actin network was recently shown to exhibit unusual lipid domain ripening due to the geometry and anisotropy of the actin network [Arnold & Takatori. Langmuir. 40, 26570-26578 (2024)]. In this work, we interpret previous experimental results on lipid membrane-actin composites with a theoretical model that combines the Cahn-Hilliard and Landau-de Gennes liquid crystal theory. In our model, we incorporate fiber-like characteristics of actin filaments and bundles through a nematic order parameter, and elastic anisotropy through cubic nematic gradients. Numerical simulations qualitatively agree with experimental observations, by reproducing the competition between the thermodynamic forces that coarsen lipid domains versus the elastic forces generated by the surrounding actin network that resist domain coarsening. We observe a decrease in the growth of domain sizes, finding $R(t) \sim t^α$ with $α< 1/4$ for different actin network stiffnesses, in sharp contrast to the $\sim t^{1/3}$ scaling for diffusive growth of domains in the absence of the actin network. Our findings may serve as a foundation for future developments in modeling elastic ripening in complex systems. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_06432 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Phase field model for viscous inclusions in anisotropic networks Gubbala, Aakanksha Jena, Anika M. Arnold, Daniel P. Takatori, Sho C. Soft Condensed Matter The growth of viscous two-dimensional lipid domains in contact with a viscoelastic actin network was recently shown to exhibit unusual lipid domain ripening due to the geometry and anisotropy of the actin network [Arnold & Takatori. Langmuir. 40, 26570-26578 (2024)]. In this work, we interpret previous experimental results on lipid membrane-actin composites with a theoretical model that combines the Cahn-Hilliard and Landau-de Gennes liquid crystal theory. In our model, we incorporate fiber-like characteristics of actin filaments and bundles through a nematic order parameter, and elastic anisotropy through cubic nematic gradients. Numerical simulations qualitatively agree with experimental observations, by reproducing the competition between the thermodynamic forces that coarsen lipid domains versus the elastic forces generated by the surrounding actin network that resist domain coarsening. We observe a decrease in the growth of domain sizes, finding $R(t) \sim t^α$ with $α< 1/4$ for different actin network stiffnesses, in sharp contrast to the $\sim t^{1/3}$ scaling for diffusive growth of domains in the absence of the actin network. Our findings may serve as a foundation for future developments in modeling elastic ripening in complex systems. |
| title | Phase field model for viscous inclusions in anisotropic networks |
| topic | Soft Condensed Matter |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.06432 |