Soft Matter Blog

This Hot Paper describes the use of a Monte Carlo model to explore the spectrum of vesicle shapes engendered by an in-plane nematic field. The study of these complex morphologies can lead to further understanding of cellular organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum the Golgi and the mitochondria. In addition, the disclination dynamics on deformable surfaces can also be studied.

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Role of disclinations in determining the morphology of deformable fluid interfaces
N. Ramakrishnan ,  John H. Ipsen and P. B. Sunil Kumar
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3058-3061, DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07384F

Ironing is an every-day occurrence, but little is known about the mechanism by which the iron unfolds the wrinkles in fabric. Obviously high temperatures, and pressures are important, but what about humidity, and the use of damp cloth? Researchers in this Hot Paper report experiments on the folding and unfolding of a single crease. Both bulk and weaved materials were studied.

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The anatomy of a crease, from folding to ironing
Adrien Benusiglio ,  Vincent Mansard ,  Anne-Laure Biance and Lydéric Bocquet
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3342-3347, DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07151G

Predicting how particles will self-assemble has huge benefits for the fabrication of functional materials, across many applications. Self-assembly allows the simultaneous organisation of many building blocks, in addition to removing the need for complicated synthetic steps. Researchers Eric Jankowski and Sharon Glotzer have developed a new conceptual approach to predict which particles will be good candidates for self-assembly, focussing on model systems of patchy colloids and CdTe/CdS tetrahedra.

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Screening and designing patchy particles for optimized self-assembly propensity through assembly pathway engineering
Eric Jankowski and Sharon C. Glotzer
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 2852-2859, DOI: 10.1039/C2SM07101K

This Hot Review looks at the natural and versatile polymer hyaluronic acid (HA). Hyaluronic acid is a component of the extracellular matrix and is employed in many biological processes. Because of the bio-compatibility of HA, it is an important building block in biomaterials. This article looks at recent efforts in using HA in drug releasing hydrogels, which are promising materials for tissue repair and regeneration.

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Hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels: from a natural polysaccharide to complex networks

Xian Xu ,  Amit K. Jha ,  Daniel A. Harrington ,  Mary C. Farach-Carson and Xinqiao Jia

Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3280-3294, DOI: 10.1039/C2SM06463D

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There is a growing interest in studying mobilitiy at the surface of low molecular weight glass formers. This Hot Paper describes nanoparticle embedding studies in the molecular glass former 1,3-bis-(1-naphthyl)-5-(2-naphthyl)benzene. By measuring both surface and bulk dynamics, the researchers provide a quantitative measure for the enhancement of surface dynamics relative to the bulk.

Comparing surface and bulk flow of a molecular glass former
C. R. Daley,  Z. Fakhraai,  M. D. Ediger and J. A. Forrest
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 2206-2212
DOI: 10.1039/C2SM06826E

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Researchers investigate the thermodynamics and percolation regimes of model binary mixtures of patchy colloidal particles in this Hot Paer. Up to four percolated strucuters at low temperature were found. Modelling such as this is of interest for tailoring the self-assembly of colloids into functional structures.

Bicontinuous and mixed gels in binary mixtures of patchy colloidal particles
Daniel de las Heras,  José Maria Tavares and Margarida M. Telo da Gama
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 1785-1794
DOI: 10.1039/C1SM06948A

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Time–temperature rheological equivalence is an important concepts with regard to the viscoelastic behavior of polymers. In this Hot Paper, the generality of an analogous relationship, time–composition equivalence, in several series of ternary block copolymer/cosolvent systems at ambient temperature was explored. In particular, triblock copolymers solvated with a miscible mixture of midblock-selective solvents which yield physical gels were studied.

Factors affecting time–composition equivalence in ternary block  copolymer/cosolvent systems
Arjun S. Krishnan and Richard J. Spontak
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 1334-1343
DOI: 10.1039/C1SM06672B

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The recently developed Molecular Theory of Weak Polyelectrolyte Gels was extended to include hydrogel films in this Hot Paper. The theory was used to study the behaviour of a weak polyelectrolyte gel constrained by a surface, to understand the structure and properties and how they differ when the gel is in contact with a water solution as compared to a hard wall. This information is important as thin hydrogel films are excellent candidates for the development of micro- and nano-sized applications requiring fast and stable stimuli-responsive materials.

Molecular theory of weak polyelectrolyte thin films
Gabriel S. Longo,  Monica Olvera de la Cruz and I. Szleifer
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 1344-1354
DOI: 10.1039/C1SM06708G

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Scientists from Belgium have worked out a way to study the mechanism of bacterial growth in slime and to control the growth by using a surfactant.

Bacteria multiply in bacterial slime, which is made up of polysaccharides. Attempts to stop this growth have been done in the past, by preventing the bacteria from signalling to each other. Now, the team has stopped growth by controlling the slime instead. They did this by studying the slime’s surface tension gradient and then adding a biosurfactant to provide a counter gradient, which stopped the bacterial spread. The bacterium they studied was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major cause of hospital acquired infections.

Surface tension gradient control of bacterial swarming in colonies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
M. Fauvart ,  P. Phillips ,  D. Bachaspatimayum ,  N. Verstraeten ,  J. Fransaer ,  J. Michiels and J. Vermant
Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 70-76
DOI: 10.1039/C1SM06002C

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