Document type
ArticleVersion
Published versionPublication date
All rights reserved
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/113894
Fluidization and active thinning by molecular kinetics in active gels
Journal Title
Director/Tutor
Additional contribution
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
We derive the constitutive equations of an active polar gel from a model for the dynamics of elastic molecules that link polar elements. Molecular binding kinetics induces the fluidization of the material, giving rise to Maxwell viscoelasticity and, provided that detailed balance is broken, to the generation of active stresses. We give explicit expressions for the transport coefficients of active gels in terms of molecular properties, including nonlinear contributions on the departure from equilibrium. In particular, when activity favors linker unbinding, we predict a decrease of viscosity with activity active thinning of kinetic origin, which could explain some experimental results on the cell cortex. By bridging the molecular and hydrodynamic scales, our results could help understand the interplay between molecular perturbations and the mechanics of cells and tissues.
Related resource
Subject (English)
Citation
Citation
ORIOLA SANTANDREU, David, ALERT ZENÓN, Ricard and CASADEMUNT I VIADER, Jaume. Fluidization and active thinning by molecular kinetics in active gels. Physical Review Letters. 2017. Vol. 118, num. 8, pags. 088002. ISSN 0031-9007. [consulted: 11 of October of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/113894