Plasmid K401-BCCP-H6 was a gift from Dr. Zvonimir Dogic. This research was supported by Dr. Kun-Ta Wu's start-up fund in Worcester Polytechnic Institute. We thank Dr. Zvonimir Dogic for the protocols to purify and label tubulin and to synthesize active fluids. We are grateful to Dr. Marc Ridilla for his expertise in protein expression and purification. We thank Dr. William Benjamin Roger for assisting us with building the temperature-controlled stage. We acknowledge Brandeis MRSEC (NSF-MRSEC-1420382) for use of the Biological Materials Facility (BMF). We acknowledge the Royal Society of Chemistry for adapting the figures from Bate et al. on Soft Matter33.

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Controlling active matter in situ opens the door to directed self-organization of active matter4,5,24,28,54. In this article, we present a protocol for using temperature to control kinesin-driven, MT-based active fluids in situ, based on the Arrhenius characteristic of the system29,30,<sup c...

Active matter is differentiated from conventional passive matter due to its capability to convert chemical energy into mechanical work. A material that possesses such capability can consist of living or non-living entities such as bacteria, insects, colloids, grains, and cytoskeletal filaments1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. These material entities interact with their neighbors. At a larger scale, they self-organize into either turbulent-like vortices (active turbulence) or material flows11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20. An understanding of self-organization of active matter has led to various applications in molecular shuttles, optical devices, and parallel computation21,22,23. To bring applications to the next level requires control beyond self-organization. For example, Palacci et al. developed a hematite-encapsulated colloid that self-propelled only when exposed to manually controlled blue light, which led to the emergence of living crystals24. Morin et al. established the control of rolling Quincke colloids by using a tunable external electric field, resulting in colloidal flocking in a racetrack-like channel25. These previous works demonstrate the role of local control in applications and advance the knowledge base of active matter.
In this article, we focus on the controllability of kinesin-driven, microtubule (MT)-based 3D active fluids. The fluids consist of three main components: MTs, kinesin molecular motors, and depletants. The depletants induce a depletion force to bundle the MTs, which are later bridged by motor clusters. These motors walk along the MTstoward the plus end. When a pair of bridged MTsis antiparallel, the corresponding motors walk in opposite directions. However, the motors are bound in a cluster and are unable to walk apart, so they cooperatively slide apart pairs of MTs (interfilament sliding, Figure 1A). These sliding dynamics accumulate, causing bundles of MTsto extend until reaching their buckling instability point and break (extensile bundles, Figure 1B)26. The broken bundles are annealed by the depletion force, which subsequently extends again, and the dynamics repeat. During the process of the repeating dynamics, the bundle movements stir the nearby liquid, inducing flows that can be visualized by doping with micron-scale tracers (Figure 1C). Sanchez et al. and Henkin et al. have characterized the mean speeds of tracers, finding that the speeds were tunable by varying the concentrations of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), depletants, motor clusters, and MTs19,27. However, such tunability existed only prior to active fluid synthesis. After synthesis, the tunability was lost, and the fluids self-organized in their own way. To control active fluid activity after synthesis, Ross.et al. reported a method using the light-activated dimerization of motor proteins, allowing fluid activity to be tuned on and off using light28. While light control is convenient in terms of locally activating the fluids, the method requires redesigning the structures of motor proteins, along with modifying the optical paths in a microscope. Here, we provide an easy-to-use method for locally controlling fluid flows without microscope modification while keeping the motor structure intact.
Our method of locally tuning active fluid flow is based on the Arrhenius law because the kinesin-MT reaction has been reported to increase with temperature29,30,31,32. Our previous studies showed that the temperature dependence of the mean speed of an active fluid flow followed the Arrhenius equation: v = A exp(-Ea/RT), where A is a pre-exponential factor, R is the gas constant, Ea is the activation energy, and T is the system temperature33. Therefore, fluid activity is sensitive to the temperature environment, and the system temperature needs to be consistent to stabilize the motor performance, and consequently, the fluid flow speed34. In this article, we demonstrate the use of the motor&#39;s temperature dependence to continuously tune the flow speeds of active fluids by adjusting the system temperature. We also demonstrate the preparation of an active fluid sample, followed by mounting the sample on a microscope stage whose temperature is controlled via computer software. Increasing the temperature from 16 &#176;C to 36 &#176;C speeds up the mean flow speeds from 4 to 8 &#181;m/s. Additionally, the tunability is reversible: repeatedly increasing and decreasing the temperature sequentially accelerates and decelerates the flow. The demonstrated method is applicable to a wide range of systems where the main reactions obey the Arrhenius law, such as the MT gliding assay29,30,31,32.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>(&#177;)-6-Hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchromane-2-carboxylic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>238813</td>
			<td>Trolox</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2-Mercaptoethanol</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>M6250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate, 98%, ACROS Organics</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>AC216550050</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3.2mm I.D. Tygon Tubing R-3603</td>
			<td>HACH</td>
			<td>2074038</td>
			<td>Water tubes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>31.75 mm diameter uncoated, sapphire window</td>
			<td>Edmund Optics</td>
			<td>43-637</td>
			<td>Sapphire disc</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3M 1181 Copper Tape - 1/2 IN Width X 18 YD Length - 2.6 MIL Total Thickness - 27551</td>
			<td>R.S. HUGHES</td>
			<td>054007-27551</td>
			<td>Copper tape</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetic Acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A6283</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acrylamide Solution (40%/Electrophoresis), Fisher BioReagents</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP1402-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adenosine 5&#39;-triphosphate dipotassium salt hydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A8937</td>
			<td>ATP</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 647 NHS Ester (Succinimidyl Ester)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A20006</td>
			<td>Far-red fluorescent dye. Alexa 647 can be pre suspended in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) before mixing with microtubules (1.3.3.2.)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Amicon Ultra-4 Centrifugal Filter Unit</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>UFC801024</td>
			<td>Centrifugal filter tube. Cutoff molecular weight: 10 kDa</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ammonium Persulfate, 100g, MP Biomedicals</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>ICN802829</td>
			<td>APS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ampicillin Sodium Salt (Crystalline Powder), Fisher BioReagents</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP1760</td>
			<td>Ampicillin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antivibration Table</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>63-7590S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Avanti J-E Centrifuge</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>369001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bacto Agar Soldifying Agent, BD Diagnostics</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>90000-760</td>
			<td>Agar</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotin</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>A14207</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bucket-plastic white - 2 gallon</td>
			<td>Bon</td>
			<td>84-715</td>
			<td>Water bucket</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calcium Chloride</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>746495</td>
			<td>CaCl2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Catalase from bovine liver</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>C40</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CFI Plan Apo Lambda 4x Obj</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>MRD00045</td>
			<td>4x air objective</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>C-FLLL-FOV GFP HC HC HISN ero Shift</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>96372</td>
			<td>GFP filter cube</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CH-109-1.4-1.5</td>
			<td>TE Technology</td>
			<td>CH-109-1.4-1.5</td>
			<td>Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Chloramphenicol, 98%, ACROS Organics</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>C0378</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cooling block</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Custom milled aluminum</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 #1610400</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>1610400</td>
			<td>Triphenylmethane dye</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>D-(+)-Glucose</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>G7528</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dimethyl Sulfoxide (Certified ACS), Fisher Chemical</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>D128</td>
			<td>DMSO</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DL-1,4-Dithiothreitol, 99%, for biochemistry, ACROS Organics</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>AC165680050</td>
			<td>DTT</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DOWSIL 340 Heat Sink Compound</td>
			<td>Dow</td>
			<td>1446622</td>
			<td>Thermal paste</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ETHYL ALCOHOL, 200 PROOF ACS/USP/NF GRADE 5 GALLON POLY CUBE</td>
			<td>Pharmco by Greenfield Global</td>
			<td>111000200CB05</td>
			<td>Ethanol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N&#39;,N&#39;-tetraacetic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>E3889</td>
			<td>EGTA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>798681</td>
			<td>EDTA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fisher BioReagents Microbiology Media Additives: Tryptone</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP1421</td>
			<td>Tryptone</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fisher BioReagents Microbiology Media Additives: Yeast Extract</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP1422</td>
			<td>Yeast extract</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluoresbrite YG Microspheres, Calibration Grade 3.00 &#181;m</td>
			<td>Polysciences</td>
			<td>18861</td>
			<td>Tracer particles</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose Oxidase from Aspergillus niger</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>G2133</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycerol</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>G5516</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GpCpp</td>
			<td>Jena Bioscience</td>
			<td>NU-405L</td>
			<td>Guanosine-5'[(&#945;,&#946;)-methyleno]triphosphate (GMPCPP)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GS Power&#39;s 18 Gauge (True American Wire Ga), 100 feet, 99.9% Stranded Oxygen Free Copper OFC, Red/Black 2 Conductor Bonded Zip Cord Power/Speaker Electrical Cable for Car, Audio, Home Theater</td>
			<td>Amazon</td>
			<td>B07428NBCW</td>
			<td>Copper wire</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Guanosine 5&#39;-triphosphate sodium salt hydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>G8877</td>
			<td>GTP</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hellmanex III</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>Z805939</td>
			<td>Detergent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES Sodium Salt (White Powder), Fisher BioReagents</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP410</td>
			<td>NaHEPES</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>High performance blender machine</td>
			<td>AIMORES</td>
			<td>AS-UP1250</td>
			<td>Blender</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>His GraviTrap</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare</td>
			<td>11003399</td>
			<td>Gravity Column</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Imidazole</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>I5513</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IPTG</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>I6758</td>
			<td>Isopropyl &#946;-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isopropyl Alcohol 99%</td>
			<td>Pharmco by Greenfield Global</td>
			<td>231000099</td>
			<td>Isopropanol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>JA-10 rotor</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>369687</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Glutamic acid potassium salt monohydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>G1501</td>
			<td>K-Glutamate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lysozyme from chicken egg white</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>L6876</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium chloride hexahydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>M2670</td>
			<td>MgCl2&#8226;6H2O</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MES sodium salt</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>M5057</td>
			<td>2-(N-Morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid sodium salt</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MOPS</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>M1254</td>
			<td>3-(N-Morpholino)propanesulfonic acid</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MP-3022</td>
			<td>TE Technology</td>
			<td>MP-3022</td>
			<td>Thermocouple</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N,N,N&#39;,N&#39;-Tetramethylethylenediamine 99%, ACROS Organics</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>AC138450500</td>
			<td>TEMED</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nanodrop 2000c UV-VIS Spectrophotometer</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>E112352</td>
			<td>Spectrometer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nikon Ti2-E Nikon Inverted Microscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>MEA54000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Norland Optical Adhesive 81</td>
			<td>Norland Products</td>
			<td>NOA81</td>
			<td>UV glue</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Novex Sharp Pre-stained Protein Standard</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>LC5800</td>
			<td>Protein standard ladder</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NuPAGE 4-12% Bis-Tris Protein Gels, 1.5 mm, 10-well</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>NP0335BOX</td>
			<td>SDS gel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Optima L-90K Ultracentrifuge</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>365672</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Parafilm PM996 Wrap , 4&#34; Wide; 125 Ft/Roll</td>
			<td>Cole-Parmer</td>
			<td>EW-06720-40</td>
			<td>Wax film</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pe 300 ultra Illumination System Single 
			Band , 3mm Light Guide control Pod 
			power supply</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>PE-300-UT-L-SB-40</td>
			<td>Cool LED Illuminator</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>78830</td>
			<td>PMSF</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphoenolpyruvic acid monopotassium salt, 99%</td>
			<td>BeanTown Chemical</td>
			<td>129745</td>
			<td>PEP</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pierce Coomassie (Bradford) Protein Assay Kit</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>23200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pierce Protease Inhibitor Mini Tablets</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A32953</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PIPES</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P6757</td>
			<td>1,4-Piperazinediethanesulfonic acid</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pluronic F-127</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P2443</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Poly(ethylene glycol)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>81300</td>
			<td>PEG. Average molecular weight 20,000 Da</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium Hydroxide (Pellets/Certified ACS), Fisher Chemical</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>P250-500</td>
			<td>KOH</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PowerEase 300W Power Supply (115 VAC)</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>PS0300</td>
			<td>DC power supply of the gel box</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PS-12-8.4A</td>
			<td>TE Technology</td>
			<td>PS-12-8.4A</td>
			<td>DC power supply of the temperature controller</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pyruvate Kinase/Lactic Dehydrogenase enzymes from rabbit muscle</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P-0294</td>
			<td>PK/LDH</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Quiet One Lifegard Fountain Pump, 296-Gallon Per Hour</td>
			<td>Amazon</td>
			<td>B005JWA612</td>
			<td>Fish tank pump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rosetta 2(DE3)pLysS Competent Cells - Novagen</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>71403</td>
			<td>Competent cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sharp Microwave ZSMC0912BS Sharp 900W Countertop Microwave Oven, 0.9 Cubic Foot, Stainless Steel</td>
			<td>Amazon</td>
			<td>B01MT6JZMR</td>
			<td>Microwave for boiling the water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Chloride (Crystalline/Certified ACS), Fisher Chemical</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>S271-500</td>
			<td>NaCl</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium dodecyl sulfate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>L3771</td>
			<td>SDS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium phosphate monobasic</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S8282</td>
			<td>NaH2PO4</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Streptavidin Protein</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>21122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sucrose</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S7903</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TC-720</td>
			<td>TE Technology</td>
			<td>TC-720</td>
			<td>Temperature controller</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris Base, Molecular Biology Grade - CAS 77-86-1 - Calbiochem</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>648310</td>
			<td>Tris-HCL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Type 45 Ti rotor</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>339160</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Type 70 Ti rotor</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>337922</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Type 70.1 Ti rotor</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>342184</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VWR General-Purpose Laboratory Labeling Tape</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>89097-916</td>
			<td>Paper tapes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VWR Micro Cover Glasses, Square, No. 1 1/2</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>48366-227</td>
			<td>Glass coverslips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VWR Plain and Frosted Micro Slides, Premium</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>75799-268</td>
			<td>Glass slides</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>XCell SureLock Mini-Cell</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>EI0001</td>
			<td>Gel box</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ZYLA 5.5 USB3.0 Camera</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>ZYLA5.5-USB3</td>
			<td>Monochrome CCD camera</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

controlling flow speeds of microtubule-based 3d active fluids using temperature

We present a method for using temperature to tune the flow speeds of kinesin-driven, microtubule-based three-dimensional (3D) active fluids. This method allows for tuning the speeds in situ without the need to manufacture new samples to reach different desired speeds. Moreover, this method enables the dynamic control of speed. Cycling the temperature leads the fluids to flow fast and slow, periodically. This controllability is based on the Arrhenius characteristic of the kinesin-microtubule reaction, demonstrating a controlled mean flow speed range of 4&#8211;8 &#181;m/s. The presented method will open the door to the design of microfluidic devices where the flow rates in the channel are locally tunable without the need for a valve.

Preparing the kinesin-driven, MT-based active fluids requires both kinesin and MTs. The MTs were polymerized from labeled tubulins (steps 1.3 and 1.4) that were purified from bovine brains (step 1.1, Figure 2A), followed by recycling to enhance purity (step 1.2, Figure 2B). The kinesin motor proteins were expressed in and purified from E. coli (steps 2.1 and 2.2, Figure 2B)...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Controlling Flow Speeds of Microtubule-Based 3D Active Fluids Using Temperature at JoVE.com

Controlling Flow Speeds of Microtubule-Based 3D Active Fluids Using Temperature

The goal of this protocol is to use temperature to control the flow speeds of three-dimensional active fluids. The advantage of this method not only allows for regulating flow speeds in situ but also enables dynamic control, such as periodically tuning flow speeds up and down.

We present a method for using temperature to tune the flow speeds of kinesin-driven, microtubule-based three-dimensional (3D) active fluids. This method ...

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7.1K Views.  Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The goal of this protocol is to use temperature to control the flow speeds of three-dimensional active fluids. The advantage of this method not only allows for regulating flow speeds in situ but also enables dynamic control, such as periodically tuning flow speeds up and down.

Video: Controlling Flow Speeds of Microtubule-Based 3D Active Fluids Using Temperature

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

For aqueous based supramolecular polymers, the simultaneous control over shape, size and stability is very difficult1. At the same time, the ability to do so is highly important in view of a number of applications in functional soft matter including electronics, biomedical engineering, and sensors. In the past, successful strategies to control the size and shape of supramolecular polymers typically focused on the use of templates2,3, end cappers4 or selective solvent techniques5. 
Here we disclose a strategy based on self-assembling discotic amphiphiles that leads to the control over stack length and shape of ordered, chiral columnar aggregates. By balancing electrostatic repulsive interactions on the hydrophilic rim and attractive non-covalent forces within the hydrophobic core of the polymerizing building block, we manage to create small and discrete spherical objects6,7. Increasing the salt concentration to screen the charges induces a sphere-to-rod transition. Intriguingly, this transition is expressed in an increase of cooperativity in the temperature-dependent self-assembly mechanism, and more stable aggregates are obtained. 
For our study we select a benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) core connected to a hydrophilic metal chelate via a hydrophobic, fluorinated L-phenylalanine based spacer (Scheme 1). The metal chelate selected is a Gd(III)-DTPA complex that contains two overall remaining charges per complex and necessarily two counter ions. The one-dimensional growth of the aggregate is directed by &pi;-&pi; stacking and intermolecular hydrogen bonding. However, the electrostatic, repulsive forces that arise from the charges on the Gd(III)-DTPA complex start limiting the one-dimensional growth of the BTA-based discotic once a certain size is reached. At millimolar concentrations the formed aggregate has a spherical shape and a diameter of around 5 nm as inferred from 1H-NMR spectroscopy, small angle X-ray scattering, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The strength of the electrostatic repulsive interactions between molecules can be reduced by increasing the salt concentration of the buffered solutions. This screening of the charges induces a transition from spherical aggregates into elongated rods with a length &gt; 25 nm. Cryo-TEM allows to visualise the changes in shape and size. In addition, CD spectroscopy permits to derive the mechanistic details of the self-assembly processes before and after the addition of salt. Importantly, the cooperativity -a key feature that dictates the physical properties of the produced supramolecular polymers- increases dramatically upon screening the electrostatic interactions. This increase in cooperativity results in a significant increase in the molecular weight of the formed supramolecular polymers in water.

The goal of this experiment is to determine and control the size, shape and stability of self-assembled discotic amphiphiles in water. For aqueous based supramolecular polymers such level of control is very difficult. We apply a strategy using both repulsive and attractive interactions. The experimental techniques applied to characterize this system are broadly applicable.

For aqueous based supramolecular polymers, the simultaneous control over shape, size and stability is very difficult1. At the same time, the ability to do ...

Determining 3D Flow Fields via Multi-camera Light Field Imaging

In the field of fluid mechanics, the resolution of computational schemes has outpaced experimental methods and widened the gap between predicted and observed phenomena in fluid flows. Thus, a need exists for an accessible method capable of resolving three-dimensional (3D) data sets for a range of problems. We present a novel technique for performing quantitative 3D imaging of many types of flow fields. The 3D technique enables investigation of complicated velocity fields and bubbly flows. Measurements of these types present a variety of challenges to the instrument. For instance, optically dense bubbly multiphase flows cannot be readily imaged by traditional, non-invasive flow measurement techniques due to the bubbles occluding optical access to the interior regions of the volume of interest. By using Light Field Imaging we are able to reparameterize images captured by an array of cameras to reconstruct a 3D volumetric map for every time instance, despite partial occlusions in the volume. The technique makes use of an algorithm known as synthetic aperture (SA) refocusing, whereby a 3D focal stack is generated by combining images from several cameras post-capture 1. Light Field Imaging allows for the capture of angular as well as spatial information about the light rays, and hence enables 3D scene reconstruction. Quantitative information can then be extracted from the 3D reconstructions using a variety of processing algorithms. In particular, we have developed measurement methods based on Light Field Imaging for performing 3D particle image velocimetry (PIV), extracting bubbles in a 3D field and tracking the boundary of a flickering flame. We present the fundamentals of the Light Field Imaging methodology in the context of our setup for performing 3DPIV of the airflow passing over a set of synthetic vocal folds, and show representative results from application of the technique to a bubble-entraining plunging jet.

A technique for performing quantitative three-dimensional (3D) imaging for a range of fluid flows is presented. Using concepts from the area of Light Field Imaging, we reconstruct 3D volumes from arrays of images. Our 3D results span a broad range including velocity fields and multi-phase bubble size distributions.

In the field of fluid mechanics, the resolution of computational schemes has outpaced experimental methods and widened the gap between predicted and ...

High-resolution, High-speed, Three-dimensional Video Imaging with Digital Fringe Projection Techniques

Digital fringe projection (DFP) techniques provide dense 3D measurements of dynamically changing surfaces.&#160;Like the human eyes and brain, DFP uses triangulation between matching points in two views of the same scene at different angles to compute depth.&#160;However, unlike a stereo-based method, DFP uses a digital video projector to replace one of the cameras1. The projector rapidly projects a known sinusoidal pattern onto the subject, and the surface of the subject distorts these patterns in the camera&#8217;s field of view. Three distorted patterns (fringe images) from the camera can be used to compute the depth using triangulation.
Unlike other 3D measurement methods, DFP techniques lead to systems that tend to be faster, lower in equipment cost, more flexible, and easier to develop.&#160;DFP systems can also achieve the same measurement resolution as the camera.&#160;For this reason, DFP and other digital structured light techniques have recently been the focus of intense research (as summarized in1-5). Taking advantage of DFP, the graphics processing unit, and optimized algorithms, we have developed a system capable of 30&#160;Hz 3D video data acquisition, reconstruction, and display for over 300,000 measurement points per frame6,7.&#160;Binary defocusing DFP methods can achieve even greater speeds8.
Diverse applications can benefit from DFP techniques. Our collaborators have used our systems for facial function analysis9, facial animation10, cardiac mechanics studies11, and fluid surface measurements, but many other potential applications exist.&#160;This video will teach the fundamentals of DFP techniques and illustrate the design and operation of a binary defocusing DFP system.

This video describes the fundamentals of digital fringe projection techniques, which provide dense 3D measurements of dynamically changing surfaces.&#160;It also demonstrates the design and operation of a high-speed binary defocusing system based on these techniques.

Digital fringe projection (DFP) techniques provide dense 3D measurements of dynamically changing surfaces.&#160;Like the human eyes and brain, DFP uses ...

Experimental Measurement of Settling Velocity of Spherical Particles in Unconfined and Confined Surfactant-based Shear Thinning Viscoelastic Fluids

An experimental study is performed to measure the terminal settling velocities of spherical particles in surfactant based shear thinning viscoelastic (VES) fluids. The measurements are made for particles settling in unbounded fluids&#160;and fluids between parallel walls. VES fluids over a wide range of rheological properties are prepared and rheologically characterized. The rheological characterization involves steady shear-viscosity and dynamic oscillatory-shear measurements to quantify the viscous and elastic properties respectively. The settling velocities under unbounded conditions are measured in beakers having diameters at least 25x the diameter of particles. For measuring settling velocities between parallel walls, two experimental cells with different wall spacing are constructed. Spherical particles of varying sizes are gently dropped in the fluids and allowed to settle. The process is recorded with a high resolution video camera and the trajectory of the particle is recorded using image analysis software. Terminal settling velocities are calculated from the data.
The impact of elasticity on settling velocity in unbounded fluids is quantified by comparing the experimental settling velocity to the settling velocity calculated by the inelastic drag predictions of Renaud et al.1&#160;Results show that elasticity of fluids can increase or decrease the settling velocity. The magnitude of reduction/increase is a function of the rheological properties of the fluids and properties of particles. Confining walls are observed to cause a retardation effect on settling and the retardation is measured in terms of wall factors.

This paper demonstrates the experimental procedure to measure terminal settling velocities of spherical particles in surfactant-based shear thinning viscoelastic fluids. Fluids over a wide range of rheological properties are prepared and settling velocities are measured for a range of particle sizes in unbounded fluids and fluids between parallel walls.

An experimental study is performed to measure the terminal settling velocities of spherical particles in surfactant based shear thinning viscoelastic ...

Measuring Material Microstructure Under Flow Using 1-2 Plane Flow-Small Angle Neutron Scattering

A new small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) sample environment optimized for studying the microstructure of complex fluids under simple shear flow is presented. The SANS shear cell consists of a concentric cylinder Couette geometry that is sealed and rotating about a horizontal axis so that the vorticity direction of the flow field is aligned with the neutron beam enabling scattering from the 1-2 plane of shear (velocity-velocity gradient, respectively). This approach is an advance over previous shear cell sample environments as there is a strong coupling between the bulk rheology and microstructural features in the 1-2 plane of shear. Flow-instabilities, such as shear banding, can also be studied by spatially resolved measurements. This is accomplished in this sample environment by using a narrow aperture for the neutron beam and scanning along the velocity gradient direction. Time resolved experiments, such as flow start-ups and large amplitude oscillatory shear flow are also possible by synchronization of the shear motion and time-resolved detection of scattered neutrons. Representative results using the methods outlined here demonstrate the useful nature of spatial resolution for measuring the microstructure of a wormlike micelle solution that exhibits shear banding, a phenomenon that can only be investigated by resolving the structure along the velocity gradient direction. Finally, potential improvements to the current design are discussed along with suggestions for supplementary experiments as motivation for future experiments on a broad range of complex fluids in a variety of shear motions.

A shear cell is developed for small-angle neutron scattering measurements in the velocity-velocity gradient plane of shear and is used to characterize complex fluids. Spatially resolved measurements in the velocity gradient direction are possible for studying shear-banding materials. Applications include investigations of colloidal dispersions, polymer solutions, and self-assembled structures.

A new small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) sample environment optimized for studying the microstructure of complex fluids under simple shear flow is ...

Fabrication of Uniform Nanoscale Cavities via Silicon Direct Wafer Bonding

Measurements of the heat capacity and superfluid fraction of confined 4He have been performed near the lambda transition using lithographically patterned and bonded silicon wafers. Unlike confinements in porous materials often used for these types of experiments3, bonded wafers provide predesigned uniform spaces for confinement. The geometry of each cell is well known, which removes a large source of ambiguity in the interpretation of data.
Exceptionally flat, 5 cm diameter, 375 &#181;m thick Si wafers with about 1 &#181;m variation over the entire wafer can be obtained commercially (from Semiconductor Processing Company, for example). Thermal oxide is grown on the wafers to define the confinement dimension in the z-direction. A pattern is then etched in the oxide using lithographic techniques so as to create a desired enclosure upon bonding. A hole is drilled in one of the wafers (the top) to allow for the introduction of the liquid to be measured. The wafers are cleaned2 in RCA solutions and then put in a microclean chamber where they are rinsed with deionized water4. The wafers are bonded at RT and then annealed at ~1,100 &#176;C. This forms a strong and permanent bond. This process can be used to make uniform enclosures for measuring thermal and hydrodynamic properties of confined liquids from the nanometer to the micrometer scale.

A method for permanently bonding two silicon wafers so as to realize a uniform enclosure is described. This includes wafer preparation, cleaning, RT bonding, and annealing processes. The resulting bonded wafers (cells) have uniformity of enclosure ~1%1,2. The resulting geometry allows for measurements of confined liquids and gasses.

Measurements of the heat capacity and superfluid fraction of confined 4He have been performed near the lambda transition using lithographically patterned ...

Fast Imaging Technique to Study Drop Impact Dynamics of Non-Newtonian Fluids

In the field of fluid mechanics, many dynamical processes not only occur over a very short time interval but also require high spatial resolution for detailed observation, scenarios that make it challenging to observe with conventional imaging systems. One of these is the drop impact of liquids, which usually happens within one tenth of millisecond. To tackle this challenge, a fast imaging technique is introduced that combines a high-speed camera (capable of up to one million frames per second) with a macro lens with long working distance to bring the spatial resolution of the image down to 10 &#181;m/pixel. The imaging technique enables precise measurement of relevant fluid dynamic quantities, such as the flow field, the spreading distance and the splashing speed, from analysis of the recorded video. To demonstrate the capabilities of this visualization system, the impact dynamics when droplets of non-Newtonian fluids impinge on a flat hard surface are characterized. Two situations are considered: for oxidized liquid metal droplets we focus on the spreading behavior, and for densely packed suspensions we determine the onset of splashing. More generally, the combination of high temporal and spatial imaging resolution introduced here offers advantages for studying fast dynamics across a wide range of microscale phenomena.

Drop impact of non-Newtonian fluids is a complex process since different physical parameters influence the dynamics over a very short time (less than one tenth of a millisecond). A fast imaging technique is introduced in order to characterize the impact behaviors of different non-Newtonian fluids.

In the field of fluid mechanics, many dynamical processes not only occur over a very short time interval but also require high spatial resolution for ...

Writing and Low-Temperature Characterization of Oxide Nanostructures

Oxide nanoelectronics is a rapidly growing field which seeks to develop novel materials with multifunctional behavior at nanoscale dimensions. Oxide interfaces exhibit a wide range of properties that can be controlled include conduction, piezoelectric behavior, ferromagnetism, superconductivity and nonlinear optical properties. Recently, methods for controlling these properties at extreme nanoscale dimensions have been discovered and developed. Here are described explicit step-by-step procedures for creating LaAlO3/SrTiO3 nanostructures using a reversible conductive atomic force microscopy technique. The processing steps for creating electrical contacts to the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface are first described. Conductive nanostructures are created by applying voltages to a conductive atomic force microscope tip and locally switching the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface to a conductive state. A versatile nanolithography toolkit has been developed expressly for the purpose of controlling the atomic force microscope (AFM) tip path and voltage. Then, these nanostructures are placed in a cryostat and transport measurements are performed. The procedures described here should be useful to others wishing to conduct research in oxide nanoelectronics.

Oxide nanostructures provide new opportunities for science and technology. The interfacial conductivity between LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 can be controlled with near-atomic precision using a conductive atomic force microscopy technique. The protocol for creating and measuring conductive nanostructures at LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces is demonstrated.

Oxide nanoelectronics is a rapidly growing field which seeks to develop novel materials with multifunctional behavior at nanoscale dimensions.  Oxide ...

Characterization of Full Set Material Constants and Their Temperature Dependence for Piezoelectric Materials Using Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy

During the operation of high power electromechanical devices, a temperature rise is unavoidable due to mechanical and electrical losses, causing the degradation of device performance. In order to evaluate such degradations using computer simulations, full matrix material properties at elevated temperatures are needed as inputs. It is extremely difficult to measure such data for ferroelectric materials due to their strong anisotropic nature and property variation among samples of different geometries. Because the degree of depolarization is boundary condition dependent, data obtained by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) impedance resonance technique, which requires several samples with drastically different geometries, usually lack self-consistency. The resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) technique allows the full set material constants to be measured using only one sample, which can eliminate errors caused by sample to sample variation. A detailed RUS procedure is demonstrated here using a lead zirconate titanate (PZT-4) piezoceramic sample. In the example, the complete set of material constants was measured from room temperature to 120 &#176;C. Measured free dielectric constants <img alt="Equation 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/53461/image001.jpg" /> and&#160;<img alt="Equation 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/53461/image002.jpg" /> were compared with calculated ones based on the measured full set data, and piezoelectric constants d15 and d33 were also calculated using different formulas. Excellent agreement was found in the entire range of temperatures, which confirmed the self-consistency of the data set obtained by the RUS.

This protocol describes the procedure of measuring the temperature dependence of the full set material constants of piezoelectric materials using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS).

During the operation of high power electromechanical devices, a temperature rise is unavoidable due to mechanical and electrical losses, causing the ...

Dielectric RheoSANS &#8212; Simultaneous Interrogation of Impedance, Rheology and Small Angle Neutron Scattering of Complex Fluids

A procedure for the operation of a new dielectric RheoSANS instrument capable of simultaneous interrogation of the electrical, mechanical and microstructural properties of complex fluids is presented. The instrument consists of a Couette geometry contained within a modified forced convection oven mounted on a commercial rheometer. This instrument is available for use on the small angle neutron scattering (SANS) beamlines at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research (NCNR). The Couette geometry is machined to be transparent to neutrons and provides for measurement of the electrical properties and microstructural properties of a sample confined between titanium cylinders while the sample undergoes arbitrary deformation. Synchronization of these measurements is enabled through the use of a customizable program that monitors and controls the execution of predetermined experimental protocols. Described here is a protocol to perform a flow sweep experiment where the shear rate is logarithmically stepped from a maximum value to a minimum value holding at each step for a specified period of time while frequency dependent dielectric measurements are made. Representative results are shown from a sample consisting of a gel composed of carbon black aggregates dispersed in propylene carbonate. As the gel undergoes steady shear, the carbon black network is mechanically deformed, which causes an initial decrease in conductivity associated with the breaking of bonds comprising the carbon black network. However, at higher shear rates, the conductivity recovers associated with the onset of shear thickening. Overall, these results demonstrate the utility of the simultaneous measurement of the rheo-electro-microstructural properties of these suspensions using the dielectric RheoSANS geometry.

Dielectric RheoSANS &amp;#8212; Simultaneous Interrogation of Impedance, Rheology and Small Angle Neutron Scattering of Complex Fluids

Here, we present a procedure for the measurement of simultaneous impedance, rheology and neutron scattering from soft matter materials under shear flow.