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Abstract |
It has been a longstanding question how life has evolved to perform all the functions we know and love. Here we design and build an experimental toy model of droplets coated with DNA that are capable of exhibiting some life-like properties. Colloidal droplets are uniquely suited for the study of living processes because they are readily synthesized and can be observed in real space and real time - key attributes for unraveling the fundamental principles of self-organization and function. In conjunction with biological enzymes, our droplets execute logic operations needed to direct particle assembly into specific target constructs. More specifically, we investigate three exciting frontiers in materials research: folding of droplet chains (i.e. colloidomers), their assembly into hierarchical structures, and their active dynamics (e.g. opening and closing). We will demonstrate nonequilibrium mechanisms that can optimize their structure/function. This work plants the seed to create programmable microscopic machines that can walk, encapsulate, and eventually. |
