Emergence of polysaccharide membrane walls through macro-space partitioning via interfacial instability.

ABSTRACT: Living organisms in drying environments build anisotropic structures and exhibit directionality through self-organization of biopolymers. However, the process of macro-scale assembly is still unknown. Here, we introduce a dissipative structure through a non-equilibrium process between hydration and deposition in the drying of a polysaccharide liquid crystalline solution. By controlling the geometries of the evaporation front in a limited space, multiple nuclei emerge to grow vertical membrane walls with macroscopic orientation. Notably, the membranes are formed through rational orientation of rod-like microassemblies along the dynamic three-phase contact line. Additionally, in the non-equilibrium state, a dissipative structure is ultimately immobilized as a macroscopically partitioned spac

SUBMITTER: Okeyoshi K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5522447 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature