Unravel the rotational and translational behavior of a single squirmer in flexible polymer solutionsat different Reynolds numbers

Microorganisms such as bacteria and algae navigate complex fluids, where their dynamics are vital for medical and industrial applications. However, the influence of the Reynolds number (Re) on the transport and rotational behavior of microswimmers in viscoelastic media remains poorly understood. Her...

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Authors: Qi, Kai, Zhou, H.Y., Corato, Marco de, Stratford, Kevin, Pagonabarraga Mora, Ignacio
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repository:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/228244
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228244
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Solucions polimèriques
Polímers conductors
Solucions numèriques
Polymer solutions
Conducting polymers
Numerical solutions
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spelling Unravel the rotational and translational behavior of a single squirmer in flexible polymer solutionsat different Reynolds numbersQi, KaiZhou, H.Y.Corato, Marco deStratford, KevinPagonabarraga Mora, IgnacioSolucions polimèriquesPolímers conductorsSolucions numèriquesPolymer solutionsConducting polymersNumerical solutionsMicroorganisms such as bacteria and algae navigate complex fluids, where their dynamics are vital for medical and industrial applications. However, the influence of the Reynolds number (Re) on the transport and rotational behavior of microswimmers in viscoelastic media remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate these effects for a model squirmer in flexible polymer solutions across a range of Re using Lattice Boltzmann simulations. The interaction between swimmer activity and polymer heterogeneity strongly affects behavior, with rotational enhancement up to 1400-fold and reduced self-propulsion and diffusivity for squirmers. These effects result from hydrodynamic and mechanical interactions: polymers wrap ahead of pushers and accumulate behind pullers, enhancing rotation while hindering translation through forces and torques from direct contacts or asymmetric flows. The influence of Re and squirmer-polymer boundary conditions (no-slip vs. repulsive) is also examined. Notably, no-slip conditions intensify effects above a critical Reynolds number (). Below this value, stronger viscous drag minimizes differences. Our findings emphasize the crucial role of polymer-swimmer interactions in shaping microswimmer behavior in viscoelastic media, informing microrobotic design in complex environments.Springer Nature2026202620252026info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion13 p.application/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/2445/228244Articles publicats en revistes (Física de la Matèria Condensada)reponame:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunyainstname:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)InglésReproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02391-9Communications Physics, 2025, vol. 8, p. 847https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02391-9cc-by-nc-nd (c) Qi, Kai, et al., 2025https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:recercat.cat:2445/2282442026-05-29T05:05:01Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Unravel the rotational and translational behavior of a single squirmer in flexible polymer solutionsat different Reynolds numbers
title Unravel the rotational and translational behavior of a single squirmer in flexible polymer solutionsat different Reynolds numbers
spellingShingle Unravel the rotational and translational behavior of a single squirmer in flexible polymer solutionsat different Reynolds numbers
Qi, Kai
Solucions polimèriques
Polímers conductors
Solucions numèriques
Polymer solutions
Conducting polymers
Numerical solutions
title_short Unravel the rotational and translational behavior of a single squirmer in flexible polymer solutionsat different Reynolds numbers
title_full Unravel the rotational and translational behavior of a single squirmer in flexible polymer solutionsat different Reynolds numbers
title_fullStr Unravel the rotational and translational behavior of a single squirmer in flexible polymer solutionsat different Reynolds numbers
title_full_unstemmed Unravel the rotational and translational behavior of a single squirmer in flexible polymer solutionsat different Reynolds numbers
title_sort Unravel the rotational and translational behavior of a single squirmer in flexible polymer solutionsat different Reynolds numbers
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Qi, Kai
Zhou, H.Y.
Corato, Marco de
Stratford, Kevin
Pagonabarraga Mora, Ignacio
author Qi, Kai
author_facet Qi, Kai
Zhou, H.Y.
Corato, Marco de
Stratford, Kevin
Pagonabarraga Mora, Ignacio
author_role author
author2 Zhou, H.Y.
Corato, Marco de
Stratford, Kevin
Pagonabarraga Mora, Ignacio
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Solucions polimèriques
Polímers conductors
Solucions numèriques
Polymer solutions
Conducting polymers
Numerical solutions
topic Solucions polimèriques
Polímers conductors
Solucions numèriques
Polymer solutions
Conducting polymers
Numerical solutions
description Microorganisms such as bacteria and algae navigate complex fluids, where their dynamics are vital for medical and industrial applications. However, the influence of the Reynolds number (Re) on the transport and rotational behavior of microswimmers in viscoelastic media remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate these effects for a model squirmer in flexible polymer solutions across a range of Re using Lattice Boltzmann simulations. The interaction between swimmer activity and polymer heterogeneity strongly affects behavior, with rotational enhancement up to 1400-fold and reduced self-propulsion and diffusivity for squirmers. These effects result from hydrodynamic and mechanical interactions: polymers wrap ahead of pushers and accumulate behind pullers, enhancing rotation while hindering translation through forces and torques from direct contacts or asymmetric flows. The influence of Re and squirmer-polymer boundary conditions (no-slip vs. repulsive) is also examined. Notably, no-slip conditions intensify effects above a critical Reynolds number (). Below this value, stronger viscous drag minimizes differences. Our findings emphasize the crucial role of polymer-swimmer interactions in shaping microswimmer behavior in viscoelastic media, informing microrobotic design in complex environments.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2026
2026
2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228244
url https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228244
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Reproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02391-9
Communications Physics, 2025, vol. 8, p. 847
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02391-9
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv cc-by-nc-nd (c) Qi, Kai, et al., 2025
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv cc-by-nc-nd (c) Qi, Kai, et al., 2025
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv 13 p.
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer Nature
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer Nature
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Articles publicats en revistes (Física de la Matèria Condensada)
reponame:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
instname:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
instname_str Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
reponame_str Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
collection Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15,811543

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