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New controlled release systems produced by self-assembly of biopolymers and colloidal particles at fluid-fluid interfaces
We have recently introduced a simple model which contains the basic features of phase separation in cross-linked polymer gels: a stretched elastic network of Lennard-Jones particles [Peleg, O.; et al. EPL 2007, 77, 58007]. While the original work clearly demonstrated the phenomenology of the model at a limited set of system parameters, this paper explores quantitative details and gives answers to many of the questions which remained open. We define and analyze an order parameter, explore the phase diagram, and identify the range of elastic constants in which microphase separation is observed and analyze the microphase separation patterns. We discuss the microscopic origin of the formation of linear rather than globular filaments as well as monitor and quantify the reorganization of the network, not only in equilibrium but also its dynamics upon applying a shear deformation. These simulations provide LIS with the elastic properties, most importantly, the shear modulus, whose magnitude is shown to correlate with the order parameter. [hide]
Scientific Board
Andreas Bausch
TU Munich, Germany ►
Peter Fischer
ETH Zurich, Switzerland ►
Anne-Marie Hermansson
SIK, Sweden ►
Martin Kroger
ETH Zurich, Germany/Switzerland ►
Erik van der Linden
Wageningen UR, The Netherlands ►
Niklas Loren
SIK, Sweden ►
Leonard Sagis
Wageningen UR, The Netherlands ►
Erich Windhab
ETH Zurich, Switzerland ►
Klaas-Jan Zuidam
Unilever, The Netherlands ►
Scientific Stuff
Manuela Duxenneuner
ETH Zurich, Switzerland ►
Sophia Fransson
SIK, Sweden ►
Nam-Phuong Humblet-Hua
Wageningen UR, The Netherlands ►
Joeska Husny
ETH Zurich, Australia/Switzerland ►
Orit Peleg
ETH Zurich, Israel/Switzerland ►
Cyrille Vezy
TU Munich, Germany ►
Varvara Mitropoulos
ETH Zurich, Switzerland ►
Associated Scientists
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Enjoy your reading
SY Tee, AR Bausch, PA Janmey,
The mechanical cell
CURRENT BIOLOGY 19 (2009) R745 ►Selected conferences (co-)organized by project members
8th World Congress on Computational Mechanics WCCM8 2008
30 June - 5 July 2007, Venice, Italy ►13 May 2025
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