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Giant activity-induced elasticity in entangled polymer solutions

Author

Listed:
  • Davide Breoni

    (Heinrich Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
    INFN-TIFPA, Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications
    Università di Trento)

  • Christina Kurzthaler

    (Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems
    Center for Systems Biology Dresden
    Physics of Life, TU Dresden)

  • Benno Liebchen

    (Technische Universität Darmstadt)

  • Hartmut Löwen

    (Heinrich Heine-Universität Düsseldorf)

  • Suvendu Mandal

    (Heinrich Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
    Technische Universität Darmstadt)

Abstract

One of the key achievements of equilibrium polymer physics is the prediction of scaling laws governing the viscoelastic properties of entangled polymer systems, validated in both natural polymers, such as DNA, and synthetic polymers, including polyethylene, which form materials like plastics. Recently, focus has shifted to active polymers systems composed of motile units driven far from equilibrium, such as California blackworms, self-propelled biopolymers, and soft robotic grippers. Despite their growing importance, we do not yet understand their viscoelastic properties and universal scaling laws. Here, we use Brownian dynamics simulations to investigate the viscoelastic properties of highly-entangled, flexible self-propelled polymers. Our results demonstrate that activity enhances the elasticity by orders of magnitude due to the emergence of grip forces at entanglement points, leading to its scaling with polymer length ∼ L. Furthermore, activity fluidizes the suspension, with the long-time viscosity scaling as ∼ L2, compared to ∼ L3 in passive systems. These insights open new avenues for designing activity-responsive polymeric materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Davide Breoni & Christina Kurzthaler & Benno Liebchen & Hartmut Löwen & Suvendu Mandal, 2025. "Giant activity-induced elasticity in entangled polymer solutions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60210-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60210-9
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