Dresden 2017 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 28: Focus: Soft Particles in Flows III (joint focus session CPP/DY)

CPP 28.6: Talk

Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 15:30–15:45, ZEU 160

Synthesis and characterization of asymmetric, viscoelastic micro-swimmers with a propulsion mechanism based on chemical reactions — •Monika Pella and Heinz Rehage — Physikalische Chemie II, Technische Universität Dortmund, D-44227 Dortmund, Deutschland

Analyzing the movement and self-organization of living cells, it is generally difficult to distinguish between physical interactions and biological processes. More detailed insights into the basic mechanisms of the swimming motions of living cells can by enabled by the investigation of artificial model swimmers. Hydrogel capsules are especially suitable for this purpose because they have similar mechanical properties as biological cells. Active chemical compounds can be stored as fuel in the core of these capsules, serving as an energy source for the propulsion of these particles. Accordingly, each swimmer has its own impellent and can move independently from each other. We investigated in different types of capsule swimmers using oxygen formation as backstroke that pushed the particles forward. Particularly the trajectories, the velocities, the attachments at solid walls, the physical-chemical properties and the typical swarming behavior of these artificial capsule swimmers are interesting. In addition to these experiments, we also analyzed the capsule swimming motion in the regime of small and large Reynold numbers.