Saturday 12 April 2025
Researchers have long been fascinated by the intricate dance of polymers in complex fluids, particularly when these mixtures are subjected to extreme conditions like intense stretching or thinning. Recently, a team of scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University has made significant strides in understanding how semi-flexible polymers, like DNA, behave under such circumstances.
The researchers focused on capillary- driven thinning, a phenomenon where a fluid filament breaks apart due to surface tension and viscous forces. This process is crucial in various industrial and biological contexts, including the formation of ink droplets, mucus production during sneezing or coughing, and even the transmission of viral diseases.
To shed light on this complex behavior, the team developed a predictive model that accounts for the time scale contributions of each polymer chain in the mixture. They used ideal solutions of semi-flexible DNA to validate their model and found that it accurately captured the elastocapillary time constant, which governs the thinning dynamics.
One of the key findings was that the elastocapillary time constant does not directly correlate with the longest relaxation time, a concept traditionally assumed in polymer physics. Instead, the team discovered that strong extensional flows lead to decreased interpolymer interactions, allowing each chain to stretch and contribute to the overall thinning process.
The researchers also explored the behavior of bi- and polydisperse polymers, demonstrating that their model can accurately predict the elastocapillary time constant in these more complex systems. This breakthrough has significant implications for various fields, including materials science, biomedical engineering, and pharmaceuticals.
The study’s findings not only deepen our understanding of polymer dynamics but also offer a powerful tool for predicting and controlling the behavior of complex fluids. As researchers continue to push the boundaries of what we know about polymers in extreme conditions, this work serves as a crucial stepping stone towards unlocking new possibilities in fields like biomedicine and materials science.
The team’s approach has far-reaching implications for our understanding of polymer physics, particularly in the context of capillary-driven thinning. By developing a predictive model that accounts for the complex interplay between polymer chains, researchers can now better understand and manipulate the behavior of these intricate systems. As we continue to explore the intricate dance of polymers in complex fluids, this work serves as a shining example of the power of scientific inquiry and collaboration.
Cite this article: “Unlocking the Secrets of DNAs Stretchy Behavior in Capillary Flows”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Polymers, Complex Fluids, Dna, Capillary-Driven Thinning, Surface Tension, Viscous Forces, Elastocapillary Time Constant, Polymer Physics, Biomedicine, Materials Science
