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A geometric criterion for the optimal spreading of active polymers in porous media

Author

Listed:
  • Christina Kurzthaler

    (Princeton University)

  • Suvendu Mandal

    (Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
    Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
    Technische Universität Darmstadt)

  • Tapomoy Bhattacharjee

    (Princeton University
    Tata Institute of Fundamental Research)

  • Hartmut Löwen

    (Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf)

  • Sujit S. Datta

    (Princeton University)

  • Howard A. Stone

    (Princeton University)

Abstract

Efficient navigation through disordered, porous environments poses a major challenge for swimming microorganisms and future synthetic cargo-carriers. We perform Brownian dynamics simulations of active stiff polymers undergoing run-reverse dynamics, and so mimic bacterial swimming, in porous media. In accord with experiments of Escherichia coli, the polymer dynamics are characterized by trapping phases interrupted by directed hopping motion through the pores. Our findings show that the spreading of active agents in porous media can be optimized by tuning their run lengths, which we rationalize using a coarse-grained model. More significantly, we discover a geometric criterion for the optimal spreading, which emerges when their run lengths are comparable to the longest straight path available in the porous medium. Our criterion unifies results for porous media with disparate pore sizes and shapes and for run-and-tumble polymers. It thus provides a fundamental principle for optimal transport of active agents in densely-packed biological and environmental settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Christina Kurzthaler & Suvendu Mandal & Tapomoy Bhattacharjee & Hartmut Löwen & Sujit S. Datta & Howard A. Stone, 2021. "A geometric criterion for the optimal spreading of active polymers in porous media," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-26942-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26942-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Chung Wing Chan & Daihui Wu & Kaiyao Qiao & Kin Long Fong & Zhiyu Yang & Yilong Han & Rui Zhang, 2024. "Chiral active particles are sensitive reporters to environmental geometry," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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