Propelling catalytic structures using active phase separation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a biomolecular condensate-based mechanism that enables sustained self-propulsion of colloids, mimicking biological motility without traditional motors, and demonstrates its effectiveness through numerical simulations.

Contribution

The study proposes a novel, minimal active phase separation mechanism for colloid propulsion, expanding understanding of motor-free biological transport.

Findings

Colloids can be propelled at speeds up to 100 microns per second.

The mechanism is highly resistant to Brownian motion and external forces.

Active phase separation can sustain indefinite self-propulsion in a homogeneous environment.

Abstract

Living systems routinely consume energy to achieve motility, often using intricate biomolecular machinery. In this work, we show that active droplets can sustain indefinite self-propulsion of a spherical colloid in an otherwise homogeneous, isotropic, and autonomous environment. Our proposed minimal mechanism consists of phase-separating proteins, enzymes passivating them, and complementary enzymes anchored to the colloid surface that reactivate the proteins. This passivation-activation cycle gives rise to a symmetry breaking - nucleation and stabilization of a condensate near the colloid surface, which in turn exerts a repulsive force on the colloid. We numerically demonstrate that this mechanism can propel micron-sized colloids at speeds of up to a hundred microns per second. This propulsion mode is strongly resistant to Brownian fluctuations and external forces, suggesting that propulsion mechanisms based on biomolecular condensates may offer a complementary, motor-free route to biological transport.