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Field-induced assembly of colloidal ellipsoids into well-defined microtubules.

ABSTRACT: Current theoretical attempts to understand the reversible formation of stable microtubules and virus shells are generally based on shape-specific building blocks or monomers, where the local curvature of the resulting structure is explicitly built-in via the monomer geometry. Here we demonstrate that even simple ellipsoidal colloids can reversibly self-assemble into regular tubular structures when subjected to an alternating electric field. Supported by model calculations, we discuss the combined effects of anisotropic shape and field-induced dipolar interactions on the reversible formation of self-assembled structures. Our observations show that the formation of tubular structures through self-assembly requires much less geometrical and interaction specificity than previously thought, and advance our current understanding of the minimal requirements for self-assembly into regular virus-like structures.

SUBMITTER: Crassous JJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4263160 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Field-induced assembly of colloidal ellipsoids into well-defined microtubules.

Crassous Jérôme J JJ Mihut Adriana M AM Wernersson Erik E Pfleiderer Patrick P Vermant Jan J Linse Per P Schurtenberger Peter P

Nature communications 20141120

Current theoretical attempts to understand the reversible formation of stable microtubules and virus shells are generally based on shape-specific building blocks or monomers, where the local curvature of the resulting structure is explicitly built-in via the monomer geometry. Here we demonstrate that even simple ellipsoidal colloids can reversibly self-assemble into regular tubular structures when subjected to an alternating electric field. Supported by model calculations, we discuss the combine ...[more]

PMID: 25409686

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