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Structuring colloidal gels via micro-bubble oscillations.

ABSTRACT: Locally (re)structuring colloidal gels - micron-sized particles forming a connected network with arrested dynamics - can enable precise tuning of the micromechanical and -rheological properties of the system. A recent experimental study [B. Saint-Michel, G. Petekidis, and V. Garbin, Soft Matter, 2022, 18, 2092] showed that local ordering can be rapidly induced by acoustically modulating an embedded microbubble. Here, we perform Brownian dynamics simulations to understand the mechanical effect of an oscillating microbubble on the next-to-bubble structure of the embedding colloidal gel. Our simulations reveal hexagonal-close-packed structures over a range that is comparable to the amplitude of the oscillations. However, we were unable to reproduce the unexpectedly long-ranged modification of the gel structure - dozens of amplitudes - observed in experiment. This suggests including long-ranged effects, such as fluid flow, should be considered in future computational work.

SUBMITTER: Torre KW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10091832 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Structuring colloidal gels via micro-bubble oscillations.

Torre K W KW de Graaf J J

Soft matter 20230412 15

Locally (re)structuring colloidal gels - micron-sized particles forming a connected network with arrested dynamics - can enable precise tuning of the micromechanical and -rheological properties of the system. A recent experimental study [B. Saint-Michel, G. Petekidis, and V. Garbin, Soft Matter, 2022, 18, 2092] showed that local ordering can be rapidly induced by acoustically modulating an embedded microbubble. Here, we perform Brownian dynamics simulations to understand the mechan ...[more]

PMID: 36988352

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Project description:One of the fundamental challenges in vascular morphogenesis is to understand how the microstructural morphology of a 3D matrix can provide the spatial cues to organize the endothelial cells (ECs) into specific vascular structures. Colloidal gels can provide well-controlled distinct morphological matrices because these gels are formed by the aggregation of particles. By altering the aggregation mode, the spatial organization of the particles can be controlled to yield different microstructural morphology. To demonstrate this, colloidal aggregates and gels were developed by electrostatic interaction-mediated aggregation of cationic polyurethane (PU) colloidal particles by using low molecular weight electrolyte and polyelectrolyte to develop microstructurally different colloidal gels without altering their bulk elasticity. Compact dense colloidal aggregates with constricted voids were developed via electrolyte-mediated aggregation, whereas stranded branched networks with interconnected voids were formed via polyelectrolyte-mediated bridging interactions. Results show that the microstructure of aggregated colloids and gels can regulate EC organizations. Within endothelial matrices, ECs track the microstructure of particulate phase to interconnect with stranded colloidal network but cluster around compact colloidal aggregate. Similarly, in colloidal gels, ECs formed capillary-like structures by interconnecting along the stranded networks with enhanced cell-matrix interactions and increased cell extension but aggregated within the constricted voids of compact dense gel with enhanced cell-cell interaction. Both morphometric analysis and expression of EC markers corroborated the cell organizations in these gels. Using these colloidal gels, we demonstrated the role of 3D microstructural morphology as an important regulator for spatial guidance of ECs and simultaneously established the significance of colloidal gels as 3D matrix to regulate cellular morphogenesis.

Dataset Information

Structuring colloidal gels via micro-bubble oscillations.

Publications

Structuring colloidal gels <i>via</i> micro-bubble oscillations.

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