Synchronization phenomena in living materials

Last updated on Nov 27, 2021
Fürthauer et al, Phys. Rev. Lett (2013)

Molecular scale motors and the structures that they actuate undergo a mechano-chemical duty-cycle that allows them to transform chemical energy into mechanical work. We seek to understand the impact of this periodicity on large scale phenomena. How can cilia synchronize their beat patterns to from metachronal waves? Can molecular motors synchronize their stepping? What are the large scale consequences of theses effects?

Sebastian Fürthauer
Sebastian Fürthauer
Principal Investigator, WWTF VRG Young Investigator

Researching the Physics of life.

Publications

Self-organized flows in phase-synchronizing active fluids
Many active biological particles, such as swimming microorganisms or motor-proteins, do work on their environment by going though a …
Brato Chakrabarti, Michael J Shelley, Sebastian Fürthauer
Project DOI
Spontaneous phase coordination and fluid pumping in model ciliary carpets
Ciliated tissues such as in the mammalian lungs, brains, and reproductive tracts, are specialized to pump fluid. They generate flows by …
Anup Kanale, Feng Ling, Hanliang Guo, Sebastian Fürthauer, Eva Kanso
Project DOI
Spontaneous phase coordination and fluid pumping in model ciliary carpets
A multiscale biophysical model gives quantized metachronal waves in a lattice of beating cilia
Understanding the emergence and properties of metachronal waves (MWs) in ciliary arrays is a multiscale problem central to …
Brato Chakrabarti, Sebastian Fürthauer, Michael J Shelley
Cite Project DOI
A multiscale biophysical model gives quantized metachronal waves in a lattice of beating cilia
Phase-synchronized state of oriented active fluids
We present a theory for self-driven fluids, such as motorized cytoskeletal extracts or microbial suspensions, that takes into account …
Sebastian Fürthauer, Sriram Ramaswamy
Cite Project DOI
Phase-synchronized state of oriented active fluids

Events

Cytoskeletal networks at Interfaces
Alexandra talks at APS.
Mar 7, 2023 4:12 PM — 4:00 PM APS march meeting, Las Vegas
Alexandra Zampetaki, Sebastian Fürthauer
Project
Continuum theory for carpets of model cilia
Sebastian presents a Poster on Synchronization in ciliary carpets at APS.
Mar 16, 2022 4:00 PM — 3:00 PM APS march meeting, Chicago
Sebastian Fürthauer, Anup Kanale, Feng Ling, Hanliang Guo, Eva Kanso
Project
Self-organized flows in phase-synchronizing active fluids
Brato gives a poster on flows in synchronizing active fluids at APS.
Mar 16, 2022 4:00 PM — 3:00 PM APS march meeting, Chicago
Brato Chakrabarti, Sebastian Fürthauer, Michael Shelley
Project
A multiscale biophysical model gives quantized metachronal waves in a lattice of cilia
Brato talks about synchronization in ciliary carpets at APS.
Mar 15, 2022 4:00 PM — 3:00 PM APS march meeting, Chicago
Brato Chakrabarti, Sebastian Fürthauer, Michael Shelley
Project