Researchers at the University of Chicago make "active" liquid crystals

Liquid crystal (Liquid crystal) is a transition state of a substance between the liquid state and the crystalline state.
It is an independent substance form different from liquid and crystal.
The substance in the liquid crystal state has the fluidity and continuity of liquid.
, And part of it has the order and optical anisotropy of crystal molecules, thus forming a fluid with anisotropy in material properties
.
Unlike traditional liquids, liquid crystals display a uniform molecular order and orientation, which provides potential for the construction of autonomous materials
.
The defect inside the crystal is essentially a tiny capsule, which can be used as a place for chemical reactions or as a transport container for goods in a circuit-like device
.
In order to create autonomous materials that can be used in technical fields, scientists often need to find a way for these materials to self-promote their own defects while controlling the direction of motion
.
Now, researchers at the University of Chicago have found such a way to control and guide the movement of liquid crystals
.
To make "active" liquid crystals, the researchers used actin filaments that make up the cytoskeleton
.
In addition, they added motor protein, a protein used by biological systems to exert strength in actin filaments
.
These proteins basically "walk" along the fibers to move the crystals
.
In fact, liquid crystal substances are universally present in organisms
.
The molecular chains of the four major organic compounds in living organisms—proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, polysaccharides, etc.
, have benzene rings, polar groups that can form hydrogen bonds, and asymmetric atoms.
They have the conditions to form a liquid crystal state and can form Lyotropic liquid crystal
.
Exploring the liquid crystal behavior of these organic biological macromolecules is a hot research topic in recent years
.
Based on this, the researchers also cooperated with the Stanford University team to develop an active liquid crystal driven by a light-sensitive protein.
This protein has an increased activity under light, and uses computer simulation models to predict the defects they may create and create local activities in the liquid crystal.
Mode to manipulate them
.
In the final verification, the researchers showed how to use it to make microfluidic devices and showed how to control these materials
.
With such materials, fluids can be transferred automatically without pumps or pressure, opening the door to programming complex behaviors into active systems
.