Soft Matter最新文献_第9页

Geometric control of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals via micropillar spacing. 微柱间距对向列液晶拓扑缺陷的几何控制。

IF 2.9 3区化学

Soft Matter Pub Date : 2026-09-23 DOI: 10.1039/d6sm00488a

Alan H Weible, James P Scarbrough, Luke C Manning, Simon Čopar, Uroš Tkalec, Xiaoguang Wang

{"title":"Geometric control of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals via micropillar spacing.","authors":"Alan H Weible, James P Scarbrough, Luke C Manning, Simon Čopar, Uroš Tkalec, Xiaoguang Wang","doi":"10.1039/d6sm00488a","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d6sm00488a","url":null,"abstract":"Topological defects in liquid crystals (LCs) emerge from elastic distortions of the director field under confinement, but the influence of geometric confinement in open microstructured systems remains poorly understood. Here, we both experimentally and computationally investigate how pillar spacing and spatial distribution govern defect formation in nematic LCs confined within micropillar arrays. By varying the lattice spacing from 10 to 60 µm and modulating interstitial space, we decouple local anchoring effects from global geometric constraints. We identify distinct regimes of defect behavior. Specifically, strong confinement suppresses isolated point defects and favors disclination lines, whereas weak confinement yields independent pillar-bound -1 defects. At intermediate spacings, defects delocalize from pillars and stabilize within interstitial regions, leading to the formation of both +1 and -1 defects. These states are not present in uniformly distributed arrays with identical spacing, highlighting the importance of free volume connectivity. These findings establish geometric confinement as a key parameter for programming topological states in LCs.","PeriodicalId":103,"journal":{"name":"Soft Matter","volume":" ","pages":"6014-6022"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148904539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Acceleration of polymer capture and translocation in oscillatory channels at certain frequencies. 特定频率下振荡通道中聚合物捕获和易位的加速。

IF 2.9 3区化学

Soft Matter Pub Date : 2026-09-23 DOI: 10.1039/d6sm00333h

Bo Peng, Yujie Li, Yuyuan Lu, Lijun Liu, Dapeng Wang

{"title":"Acceleration of polymer capture and translocation in oscillatory channels at certain frequencies.","authors":"Bo Peng, Yujie Li, Yuyuan Lu, Lijun Liu, Dapeng Wang","doi":"10.1039/d6sm00333h","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d6sm00333h","url":null,"abstract":"Elucidating the dynamic mechanisms of polymer translocation through nanochannels with channel oscillation characterized by periodic opening and closing is critical for advancing the understanding of polymer transport in confined environments and guiding the design of advanced nanofluidic systems. We employed coupled molecular dynamics and multi-particle collision dynamics simulations to investigate the influence of channel oscillation on polymer capture and translocation in varying dielectric environments. The capture probability and translocation time of polymers consistently exhibit a non-monotonic dependence on oscillation frequency. Translocation is accelerated within a certain range of the reduced oscillation frequency , with the translocation time reaching a minimum in the interval of 10-1 to 100, where  is defined as the ratio of the translocation time through a static channel to the oscillation period. This interval corresponds to the regime where the oscillation period is commensurate with the timescale of polymer translocation. Analysis indicates that periodic opening and closing of the channel generates a microflow toward the trans side via hydrodynamic interactions, driving monomers into the channel during opening and facilitating their expulsion during channel closure, thereby accelerating capture and translocation. Furthermore, it modulates polymer conformation, enhancing the driving force on polymers and further promoting translocation. Conversely, electrostatic interactions impede these processes by altering polymer conformation and introducing steric hindrance from condensed counterions. These findings reveal fundamental mechanisms of polymer dynamics in oscillatory channels and may provide insights into systems where such dynamics are a key factor, from biological pores to the design of synthetic nanochannels.","PeriodicalId":103,"journal":{"name":"Soft Matter","volume":" ","pages":"6085-6098"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148878854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Investigations of interfacial dynamics of droplet formation via a particle-free flow visualization method. 用无粒子流动可视化方法研究液滴形成的界面动力学。

IF 2.9 3区化学

Soft Matter Pub Date : 2026-09-23 DOI: 10.1039/d6sm00538a

Yi Huang, Xin Jiang, Shuai Yin, Sihang Liu, Haiwang Li, Teckneng Wong

{"title":"Investigations of interfacial dynamics of droplet formation via a particle-free flow visualization method.","authors":"Yi Huang, Xin Jiang, Shuai Yin, Sihang Liu, Haiwang Li, Teckneng Wong","doi":"10.1039/d6sm00538a","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d6sm00538a","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper, we investigate the interfacial dynamics of droplet formation in a flow-focusing microchannel using a particle-free liquid crystal (LC) polarization method. Driven by flow-induced shear, the anisotropic LC molecules reorient to generate distinct optical fringe patterns that map the localized flow field. Quantitatively, our results reveal that the fringe density within the liquid filament increases exponentially as the neck thins, providing a direct visual signature of the rapidly intensifying shear stress prior to pinch-off. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the LC droplet diameter exhibits an exponential decrease relative to the capillary number (Ca), quantitatively scaling as D = αCa-0.315. The implementation of an AC electric field in the microfluidic environment enabled precise tuning of the droplet size between 20 and 80 µm. Specifically, the electric field causes a rapid initial decrease in droplet diameter at 500 Hz, followed by gradual shrinkage as the frequency increases to 5000 Hz. The LC-based visualization framework established in this study can be extended to probe the rheological behavior of complex fluids in constrained geometries, while the electro-hydrodynamic control mechanism lays the foundation for next-generation optofluidic actuators and responsive soft functional materials.","PeriodicalId":103,"journal":{"name":"Soft Matter","volume":" ","pages":"5991-6001"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148785911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Response surface optimization of thermosensitive chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol hybrid hydrogels with enhanced betel leaf extract release for localized anti-inflammatory therapy. 增强槟榔叶提取物释放的热敏壳聚糖-聚乙烯醇杂化水凝胶的响应面优化。

IF 2.9 3区化学

Soft Matter Pub Date : 2026-09-23 DOI: 10.1039/d6sm00493h

Nga H N Do, Mai Thi Nguyen, Anh C Ha

{"title":"Response surface optimization of thermosensitive chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol hybrid hydrogels with enhanced betel leaf extract release for localized anti-inflammatory therapy.","authors":"Nga H N Do, Mai Thi Nguyen, Anh C Ha","doi":"10.1039/d6sm00493h","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d6sm00493h","url":null,"abstract":"Thermoresponsive biopolymer hydrogels offer a versatile platform for localized delivery of bioactive compounds; however, their performance is often limited by the competing requirements of network integrity, mechanical compliance, and stimulus-regulated release. Herein, thermosensitive chitosan/β-glycerophosphate/polyvinyl alcohol (CS/GP/PVA) hybrid hydrogels were optimized for the delivery of anti-inflammatory betel leaf extract (BLE) under in vitro conditions simulating an acute inflammatory microenvironment (pH 6.5 and 39 °C). Non-optimized hydrogels previously released only 61% of the loaded BLE, with negligible lysozyme-triggered release attributed to dense chitosan cross-linking that constrained enzyme-accessible transport pathways. Response surface methodology was applied to balance cumulative BLE release and elastic modulus. The optimized formulation (0.88% CS, 4.76% GP, 0.5% PVA, and 4000 µg mL-1 BLE) achieved a cumulative BLE release of 73.41%, corresponding to a 20% relative increase over the non-optimized hybrid hydrogel, and an elastic modulus of 1.54 kPa. The optimized hydrogel also displayed pronounced microenvironment-responsive release, including an eightfold higher BLE release at pH 6.5 than at pH 8.0 and lysozyme-triggered release within 24 hours, indicating that it restored pH- and enzyme-regulated transport. In cell-free assays, the hydrogel extract inhibited hyaluronidase activity, scavenged DPPH radicals, and suppressed Staphylococcus aureus growth. The hydrogel was cytocompatible and significantly suppressed nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, confirming that anti-inflammatory activity is retained in a cellular model. These findings establish the optimized hybrid hydrogel as a bio-functional, thermo-responsive network capable of coupling elasticity with bioactive extract release behavior, offering a promising candidate towards localized anti-inflammatory therapy.","PeriodicalId":103,"journal":{"name":"Soft Matter","volume":" ","pages":"6032-6047"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148862596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

In situ polymerised KH570-OH-BNNS/PAS composite emulsion achieves superior lubricity and load-bearing capacity. 原位聚合的KH570-OH-BNNS/PAS复合乳液具有优异的润滑性和承载能力。

IF 2.9 3区化学

Soft Matter Pub Date : 2026-09-23 DOI: 10.1039/d6sm00590j

Gaohui Wang, Mengjie Lin, Xia Zhang

{"title":"In situ polymerised KH570-OH-BNNS/PAS composite emulsion achieves superior lubricity and load-bearing capacity.","authors":"Gaohui Wang, Mengjie Lin, Xia Zhang","doi":"10.1039/d6sm00590j","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d6sm00590j","url":null,"abstract":"Conventional emulsion lubricants suffer from issues such as oil film rupture under high loads, poor lubrication stability and insufficient load-carrying capacity. To address these issues, this study developed an acrylic polymer emulsion (PAS) with a simple composition and KH570-modified hydroxylated boron nitride nanosheets (KH570-OH-BNNS), which were used to prepare a nanocomposite emulsion lubricant via in situ polymerisation. The resulting emulsion lubricant exhibits excellent stability, lubricity and load-carrying capacity. Under a test load of 294 N, a minimum coefficient of friction of 0.047 was achieved, representing a reduction of 85.6% compared with the base lubricant. The wear rate was as low as 1.03 × 10-9 mm3 N-1 m-1, whilst the maximum anti-seize load (PB) reached 1579 N. The lubrication mechanism indicates a synergistic effect between the polymer matrix and the modified boron nitride nanosheets at the friction interface, forming a dense organic-inorganic lubricating film that effectively prevents direct contact between steel surfaces, thereby exhibiting excellent tribological performance. This study provides a new strategy for the design of high-performance water-based emulsified lubricants and expands their potential applications in the field of lubrication.","PeriodicalId":103,"journal":{"name":"Soft Matter","volume":" ","pages":"6156-6168"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148904556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Steering the self-assembly of deformable nanoscale building blocks. 控制可变形纳米级构建块的自组装。

IF 2.9 3区化学

Soft Matter Pub Date : 2026-09-23 DOI: 10.1039/d5sm01161b

Fanbo Sun, Lucas Snyder, Vikram Jadhao

{"title":"Steering the self-assembly of deformable nanoscale building blocks.","authors":"Fanbo Sun, Lucas Snyder, Vikram Jadhao","doi":"10.1039/d5sm01161b","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d5sm01161b","url":null,"abstract":"Most coarse-grained models of the nanoscale self-assembly process employ rigid building blocks that do not exhibit shape adaptation, limiting our understanding of the role of elasticity in altering self-assembly pathways. We study how bending rigidity of nanoscale building blocks affects their self-assembly using microsecond-long Langevin dynamics simulations of a coarse-grained model of deformable building blocks. Our model is inspired by the protein subunits, also known as capsomers, of a typical small icosahedral virus system. Transitions in assembly products from dispersed capsomers to symmetric cages to malformed aggregates are observed with increasing bending modulus of the capsomer. Simulations find a mechanical \"goldilocks zone\" in the space of capsomer bending modulus and capsomer-capsomer steric attraction for successful protein cage formation, where capsomers are sufficiently rigid to suppress strong shape fluctuations and promote capsid assembly nucleation, and also sufficiently soft to correct errors during the capsid growth pathway. The pronounced effects of changing capsomer bending rigidity on the steady-state assembly products are linked to the changes in the assembly kinetics, and explained by the variations in the angular fluctuations characterizing the capsomer and associated \"shape entropy\" costs. We apply the deformable capsomer model to probe the encapsulation of charged nanoparticles and show that encapsulation behavior depends on capsomer elasticity. Our results highlight how block elasticity can guide nanoscale assembly and provide a computational framework for designing deformable particles and reconfigurable materials.","PeriodicalId":103,"journal":{"name":"Soft Matter","volume":" ","pages":"6169-6180"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148910150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

A torrent intercepts the ionic flow in a polyelectrolyte solution II. 激流阻断了聚电解质溶液II中的离子流。

IF 2.9 3区化学

Soft Matter Pub Date : 2026-09-23 DOI: 10.1039/d6sm00276e

Rentaro Kanamori, Shuya Watanabe, Mohamed Hussien, Yoshifumi Yamagata, Keisuke Miyamoto, Mika Kawai, Tetsu Mitsumata

引用次数: 0

Concentration and temperature dependence of the helical pitch in cholesteric xanthan gum solutions. 胆甾黄原胶溶液中螺旋沥青的浓度和温度依赖性。

IF 2.9 3区化学

Soft Matter Pub Date : 2026-09-23 DOI: 10.1039/d6sm00593d

Yang Xiao, Mikhail Osipov, Johanna R Bruckner

{"title":"Concentration and temperature dependence of the helical pitch in cholesteric xanthan gum solutions.","authors":"Yang Xiao, Mikhail Osipov, Johanna R Bruckner","doi":"10.1039/d6sm00593d","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d6sm00593d","url":null,"abstract":"Solutions of partially depolymerized xanthan gum which form cholesteric lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) phases, can be used to produce structurally colored, non-brittle photonic films. A key factor which determines the photonic properties of the dried xanthan films is the helical pitch p in the solid cholesteric structure retained from the liquid crystal phase, which enables the films to selectively reflect visible light. However, detailed experiments and a sophisticated theoretical model for unraveling the evolution of helical pitch over a broad concentration range in LLC systems containing semiflexible building blocks have remained elusive. In this work, we systematically study the temperature and concentration dependence of the helical pitch in aqueous solutions of ultrasonically treated xanthan gum over an extended concentration range up to 30 wt%. This investigation reveals that while the inverse pitch, i.e. the helical twist, decreases linearly with temperature, it grows much more dramatically with concentration. Current theories cannot explain such strong non-linear concentration dependence of the inverse pitch at high concentration. Therefore, we propose a new molecular statistical model based on the so-called generalized van der Waals theory (GVWT) of the nematic phase, taking into account the concentration dependent steric intermolecular correlations as well as the effective attraction interaction. This model successfully interprets the divergence of the inverse pitch at high concentrations and estimates reasonable minimum achievable pitch values in the dried films as observed for the xanthan samples. These findings reinforce our understanding of chiral interactions in semiflexible LLCs, more deeply bridging the cholesteric ordering and structural coloration in solid films.","PeriodicalId":103,"journal":{"name":"Soft Matter","volume":" ","pages":"6120-6132"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148904546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Poroelasticity influences the compression stiffening of model soft tissues. 孔隙弹性影响模型软组织的压缩硬化。

IF 2.9 3区化学

Soft Matter Pub Date : 2026-09-23 DOI: 10.1039/d6sm00307a

Iain Muntz, Mireya Arents, Doris Houtzager, Rick Rodrigues de Mercado, Fred C MacKintosh, Gijsje H Koenderink

{"title":"Poroelasticity influences the compression stiffening of model soft tissues.","authors":"Iain Muntz, Mireya Arents, Doris Houtzager, Rick Rodrigues de Mercado, Fred C MacKintosh, Gijsje H Koenderink","doi":"10.1039/d6sm00307a","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d6sm00307a","url":null,"abstract":"The material properties of connective tissues are often considered to be dominated by the extracellular matrix. However, cells within tissues contribute significantly to the mechanics, particularly when considering volume-changing deformations such as axial compression. Recent studies have considered the compression response of model tissues at long times, where the role of the interstitial fluid is negligible. Here, we experimentally study the interplay of matrix, cell and fluid mechanics in the short time response of model tissues based on fibrous networks with embedded microgel inclusions as passive cell-like mimics. By simultaneously applying compression at a fixed strain rate while measuring the shear modulus via small strain shear oscillations, we show that at long times fibrous networks transition from compression-softening behaviour to compression-stiffening behaviour upon incorporation of microgel particles. At short times, however, we show that fluid pressure build-up leads to significant compression-stiffening, regardless of the inclusion of microgels. Our findings demonstrate that the role of fluid pressurisation is key to understanding the response of tissues to deformations on timescales on the order of a few seconds, common in many tissues subject to physiological deformations.","PeriodicalId":103,"journal":{"name":"Soft Matter","volume":" ","pages":"6077-6084"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148878924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Surfactant-mediated control of wetting and mobility of droplets on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based slippery surfaces. 表面活性剂对聚二甲基硅氧烷（PDMS）基光滑表面液滴润湿和迁移的调控。

IF 2.9 3区化学

Soft Matter Pub Date : 2026-09-23 DOI: 10.1039/d6sm00726k

Avijeet Rai, Jitesh Barman

{"title":"Surfactant-mediated control of wetting and mobility of droplets on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based slippery surfaces.","authors":"Avijeet Rai, Jitesh Barman","doi":"10.1039/d6sm00726k","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d6sm00726k","url":null,"abstract":"Controlling the wetting and mobility of droplets on a state-of-the-art lubricant-coated slippery surface has broad implications in microfluidics applications. However, a study on surfactant-mediated wetting on these surfaces is still missing. In this article, we report the effect of the oil-water interfacial tension change induced by the addition of the surfactant in an aqueous droplet on the static wetting, and the dynamics of droplet mobility on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based slippery surface. The stability analysis employing the contact angle and Hamaker's constant measurements shows the presence of a stable lubricating film underneath the surfactant droplet on the slippery surface for all the concentrations up to 1.0 cmc. Interestingly, the surfactant in an aqueous droplet on a slippery surface enhances the wettability, following a modified Young's law. In addition, we found that the droplet shedding dynamics slow down due to the addition of surfactant. Furthermore, the dynamic frictional force measurements show that the dissipation force of the surfactant aqueous droplet depends on the viscosity and the shedding speed following the universal Landau-Levich-Derjaguin (LLD) law of friction force on lubricated surfaces as FD ∼ 2πγRCa2/3. Moreover, the influence of the surfactant on the dynamic dissipation force can be interpreted by the surface tension gradient at the oil-water interface near the ridge region, inducing a Marangoni stress. These results not only validate existing theoretical models of slippery surfaces but also provide insight into the mechanism to control the wetting and mobility of surfactant droplets on these surfaces for microfluidics applications.","PeriodicalId":103,"journal":{"name":"Soft Matter","volume":" ","pages":"6099-6110"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148878939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0