Mechanosensitivity of phase separation in an elastic gel.

ABSTRACT: Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in binary or multi-component solutions is a well-studied subject in soft matter with extensive applications in biological systems. In recent years, several experimental studies focused on LLPS of solutes in hydrated gels, where the formation of coexisting domains induces elastic deformations within the gel. While the experimental studies report unique physical characteristics of these systems, such as sensitivity to mechanical forces and stabilization of multiple, periodic phase-separated domains, the theoretical understanding of such systems and the role of long-range interactions have not emphasized the nonlinear nature of the equilibrium binodal for strong segregation of the solute. In this paper, we formulate a generic, mean-field theory of a hydra

SUBMITTER: Deviri D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10879317 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature