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Microtubular Teardrop Patterning and the Growing Process

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2013

Kosuke Okeyoshi,
Kawamura Ryuzo and
Yoshihito Osada
Kosuke Okeyoshi
Affiliation:
RIKEN, Advanced Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, JapanDepartment of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Kawamura Ryuzo
Affiliation:
RIKEN, Advanced Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, JapanBioMedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8562, Japan
Yoshihito Osada
Affiliation:
RIKEN, Advanced Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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Abstract

Here we show that microtubular bundles bend flexibly under a hydrodynamic flow to form teardrop patterns. In a highly concentrated microtubular solution, patterns of same-sized teardrops form according to the maximum critical curvature, which is determined by the specific rigidity of the microtubules. Our understanding is that these micropatterns grow when microtubular bundles with hydrodynamic flow energy are converted into stable teardrop patterns as a higher structure. This conversion is generated by the combined effect of multiple kinds of energy, including heat and hydrodynamic flow, as well as life systems. These self-generating patterns in a spatio-temporal stream are reminiscent of what the artist Edward Munch called a scream of nature. We also envision that microtubular pattering with hierarchical structure will broaden the potential application of these geometrical structures and guide biomimetic material engineering towards areas such as integrated energy conversion, soft material patterning, and living signal transduction.

Keywords

biologicalself-assemblypolymerization

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References

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