Motion of an Adhesive Gel in a Swelling Gradient: A Mechanism for Cell Locomotion
- 25 April 2003
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review Letters
- Vol. 90 (16) , 168102
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.90.168102
Abstract
Motivated by the motion of nematode sperm cells, we present a model for the motion of an adhesive gel on a solid substrate. The gel polymerizes at the leading edge and depolymerizes at the rear. The motion results from a competition between a self-generated swelling gradient and the adhesion on the substrate. The resulting stress provokes the rupture of the adhesion points and allows for the motion. The model predicts an unusual force-velocity relation which depends in significant ways on the point of application of the force.Keywords
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