Arrested Ostwald Ripening in Non-Equilibrium Systems

TL;DR

This study uses molecular dynamics to show that Ostwald ripening is suppressed in non-equilibrium systems, such as living cells, potentially explaining droplet stabilization in biological contexts.

Contribution

It demonstrates that Ostwald ripening is absent in non-equilibrium conditions through simulations, highlighting a possible mechanism for droplet stability in living cells.

Findings

Ostwald ripening is suppressed in non-equilibrium systems.

Droplet stabilization may result from non-equilibrium conditions.

Simulations show absence of ripening when systems are driven out of equilibrium.

Abstract

Absence of Ostwald ripening has been observed in living cells, which operate out of equilibrium. Using molecular dynamics we study the behaviour of liquid droplets away from equilibrium in a system of particles interacting with each other via several central potential. The system is driven out of equilibrium either by the particles randomly transitioning between two states, or by randomly changing their momenta. In all cases Ostwald ripening is absent only away from equilibrium. This phenomena, might be the mechanism by which droplets in living cells are stabilized.