Microtubule-based active gels are soft materials made from tiny protein filaments (microtubules) and motor proteins that constantly use chemical fuel. As the motors move along the filaments, they attach the filaments to form a gel, causing the filaments to slide into swirling flows that can last for hours. Because we can precisely control the ingredients and fuel, this system serves as a reliable testbed for observing how local molecular motion and interactions evolve into large-scale flow patterns and self-organized structures.
Programmable Soft Matter, Active Materials, Biophysics
