The frontier of condensed-matter physics has been pushed further by a team of pioneering researchers, unveiling a breakthrough in the behavior of confluent monolayers of synthetic cell mimics. This study, spearheaded by Pragya Arora and Rajesh Ganapathy, has brought forth a novel understanding of a shape-driven reentrant jamming transition. These findings have been documented in the latest issue of Nature Communications.
- 📐 Epithelial Cell Monolayers and Tissues Overview:
- Epithelial cell monolayers are densely packed environments where remodeling and cancer cell migration occur.
- Processes involve local flow and a jamming-unjamming transition influenced by density changes and cell deformability.
- Cell shape changes drive unjamming, impacting pathophysiology in conditions like asthma and cancer progression.
- 🧬 Synthetic Cell-Mimics Creation:
- Developed deformable, active cell-mimics using paper rings enclosing chiral active ellipsoids.
- Ellipsoids exhibit persistent active torques, influencing their motility and shape within the paper rings.
- 🌀 Re-entrant Jamming Behavior:
- Observed in synthetic cell-mimic assemblies at near-confluence densities.
- Intermediate activity levels lead to fluid-like dynamics despite high cell density, correlating with cell shape variability.
- 🔍 Cell Shape and Dynamics Correlation:
- Cell aspect ratio (AR) and shape variability (SD(AR)) are correlated with structural relaxation dynamics.
- Systems with higher AR and SD(AR) exhibit faster relaxation dynamics, indicative of fluid-like behavior.
- 📊 Dynamical Heterogeneities:
- Faster relaxing cells show suppressed shape variability compared to slower cells within dense assemblies.
- Local dynamical heterogeneities mirror those observed in natural cell systems, suggesting a universal behavior in dense cell collectives.
Arora, along with co-researchers Sadhukhan and Nandi, embark on a deep exploration of the mechanics and statistics of active matter. Until recently, understanding how synthetic cells interact and migrate remained a challenging issue. Their study, cited as “A shape-driven reentrant jamming transition in confluent monolayers of synthetic cell-mimics,” presents a comprehensive examination of synthetic cell dynamics and their jamming behaviors.
The reentrant jamming transition refers to the phenomenon in which a system transitions from a fluid-like state to a solid-like state and back to a fluid-like state owing to changes in conditions, such as shape or density. By leveraging cutting-edge experimental techniques and rigorous formal analysis, the team provided invaluable insights into how these transitions can be influenced by the shape of cell mimics.
Their findings not only illuminate the dynamics of synthetic biological materials but also set the stage for innovations in designing responsive, active materials for various applications. This research represents a collaborative effort on multiple fronts, with validated methodologies and thorough investigation under the supervision and conceptualization of Rajesh Ganapathy.
Furthermore, the publication pays homage to those in the peer review process who contributed their time and expertise to ensure the robustness of the study. Nature Communications acknowledges Hamid Kellay, Paolo Malgaretti, and other anonymous reviewers for their contributions.
Intriguingly, the results feature extensive supplementary materials, including seven distinct supplementary movies, providing visual and dynamic insights into their experiments. These supplements enhance the comprehensibility and impact of the research, allowing for a broader understanding of the behavior and implications of synthetic cell mimics.
In the spirit of open science, publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This allows for the use, sharing, and adaptation of the research, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original authors. This approach signifies a commitment to the open dissemination of scientific knowledge, fostering advancement, and innovation across the scientific community.
This landmark study marks a significant milestone in the realm of active matter, paving the way for future research and potential practical applications in materials science and bioengineering. As the scientific community continues to digest and build upon these findings, one thing becomes clear: the microscopic world of synthetic cells holds the key to extraordinary discoveries, shaping our understanding of material behaviors at the most fundamental levels.
For further details, interested parties can reach out to the corresponding authors, Pragya Arora and Rajesh Ganapathy. Full access to the article and supplementary materials can be found on the official Nature Communications website.
About Nature Communications:
Nature Communications is a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal covering the natural sciences. This journal publishes high-quality research across a wide range of fields, promoting the dissemination of scientific discovery.
A shape-driven reentrant jamming transition in confluent monolayers of synthetic cell-mimics
- Pragya Arora, Souvik Sadhukhan, Saroj Kumar Nandi, Dapeng Bi, A. K. Sood & Rajesh Ganapathy
- 📐 Cell shape influences jamming transitions similar to inert particle packings.
- 🧬 Shape variability correlates with cell aspect ratio across different epithelial systems.
- 📈 Re-entrant jamming transition observed with synthetic cell-mimics at intermediate activity levels.
- 🛠️ Synthetic active cell-mimics created using chiral ellipsoids and paper rings.
- 🔍 Activity levels (τp) affect cell motility and shape variability.
- 📚 Universal k-gamma distribution observed in cell shape variability.
- 🌐 Dynamics correlate with cell shape and variability in synthetic and natural cell systems.
