<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
    <rss version="2.0">
      <channel xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
        <title>Frontiers in Soft Matter | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/soft-matter</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Soft Matter | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
        <generator>Frontiers Feed Generator,version:1</generator>
        <pubDate>2026-04-13T11:39:14.846+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2026.1815170</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2026.1815170</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Hierarchical design of hybrid carriers to control nutrient fate]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Kefan Ouyang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[For decades, nutrient delivery system design has been constrained by a fundamental trade-off: Enhancing stability is often associated with reduced bioavailability, and vice versa. This review presents a hierarchical, multi-scale design strategy for hybrid materials. At the molecular level, thermodynamic control of binding interactions, such as through precise chelation chemistry, maintains bioactive compounds in a soluble yet protected state. Moving to the microscale, engineering of porosity, tortuosity, and interfacial properties creates intelligent, stimuli-responsive barriers that remain inert until encountering their target physiological environment. The macroscopic architecture, in turn, is tailored for mechanical resilience against digestive forces while promoting desirable interactions with mucosal surfaces. The field is now leveraging computational screening and machine learning to navigate vast material spaces, accelerating the discovery of novel constructs with optimized biological interfaces. The future points toward truly “smart” systems capable of targeted release, where the carrier itself may contribute synergistic health benefits beyond mere protection. This evolution from empirical formulation to the rational design of matter across scales effectively renders the old stability-bioavailability compromise obsolete.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2026.1750630</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2026.1750630</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Foam cleaning in closed circuits: effect of surfactant type on foam structure and Bacillus subtilis spore removal from stainless steel surfaces]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ahmad Al Saabi</author><author>Heni Dallagi</author><author>Piyush Kumar Jha</author><author>Fethi Aloui</author><author>Thierry Benezech</author><author>Christine Faille</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Foam cleaning represents an environmentally and economically attractive alternative to conventional cleaning-in-place (CIP) processes for removing microbial contamination in food and bioprocessing industries. This study systematically compared three surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Ammonyx® LO, and Capstone® FS-30, to understand how surfactant type influences foam structure and cleaning performance. Stainless steel coupons contaminated with Bacillus subtilis 98/7 spores were cleaned under identical flow conditions using foam generated at a nominal air fraction of 0.5 and a mean velocity of 1.8 cm s-1. SDS achieved the highest spore removal (1.9 log10 reduction after 20 min), with superior kinetic detachment (K1 = 114.75 s-1; f = 98.2%), while Ammonyx® LO (0.83 log10) and Capstone® FS-30 (0.55 log10) performed significantly worse. These differences were attributed to foam structural properties: SDS produced fine, stable bubbles persisting for 24 h, while Ammonyx® LO and Capstone® FS-30 collapsed after 8 and 3 h, respectively. Image analysis revealed local air fractions of 0.88 (SDS), 0.79 (Ammonyx), and 0.96 (Capstone) in the test section, confirming dry foam behavior. Theoretical analysis using Bretherton’s model and microscopic observations showed that SDS’s low capillary number promotes strong Marangoni stabilization and thin lamellae, generating sustained wall shear stress fluctuations essential for spore detachment. This study demonstrates that foam cleaning efficiency is primarily determined by surfactant-controlled variations in bubble size, foam stability, and interfacial properties. SDS provides the optimal balance for achieving efficient and sustainable foam-based cleaning.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2026.1772355</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2026.1772355</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Edible gas marbles stabilized with cocoa particles: understanding their behavior by tuning the edible liquid phase]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Takuto Yagishita</author><author>Anne-Laure Fameau</author><author>Syuji Fujii</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionGas marbles have recently emerged as a new class of particle-stabilized gas–liquid systems. A gas marble consists of a single air bubble suspended in air and encapsulated by a thin liquid shell stabilized by solid particles, forming an air-in-liquid-in-air structure. Gas marbles can be generated using various edible particles, but their formation has so far been demonstrated almost exclusively in water, where only particles with intermediate wettability (moderately hydrophilic contact angles) lead to stable structures. Because liquid surface tension strongly influences the three-phase contact angle, expanding gas-marble formation beyond water requires understanding how the liquid phase governs gas marbles formation and stability.MethodsIn this work, we investigate the formation of gas marbles using cocoa particles and a wide range of edible liquids differing in surface tension and composition. We also systematically varied a model liquid phase from water/ethanol mixtures. Unlike previous studies that focused primarily on particle wettability in water-based systems, this work explicitly isolates and elucidates the role of the liquid phase in governing gas-marble formation.Results and discussionWe demonstrate that the three-phase contact angle can be tuned through liquid surface tension, enabling or inhibiting gas-marble formation. We show, for the first time, that stable cocoa-based gas marbles can be produced in a broad set of edible liquids, provided that the liquid surface tension remains sufficiently high (above 34 mN/m). These gas marbles exhibit notable robustness, including heat resistance and long-term stability. Overall, this study establishes clear criteria linking liquid surface tension, particle wettability, and gas-marble formation. These findings provide new physical insight into particle-stabilized gas–liquid interfaces beyond water systems and offer general formulation guidelines applicable across a wide range of edible and non-aqueous liquids.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2026.1757443</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2026.1757443</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Sulfidic crosslinks in EPM: a strategy for advanced flexible EPM composites]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Arshad Rahman Parathodika</author><author>Kinsuk Naskar</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Ethylene–propylene rubber (EPM) is a fully saturated elastomer, which prevents its crosslinking by conventional accelerated sulfur curing that requires unsaturation. In this study, a hybrid curing approach is introduced to generate sulfidic crosslinks in EPM. The method combines organic peroxide curing with sulfur-based vulcanization. Peroxide generates radicals on the EPM backbone and forms macro radicals, which can be captured by sulfur species, forming sulfur macroradicals that couple either with each other or with other EPM macro radicals to create alkyl-alkyl sulfidic crosslinks in EPM. Alongside these, the system also contains conventional alkyl–alkyl carbon crosslinks generated by peroxide. While carbon–carbon crosslinks impart excellent thermal stability and compression set resistance in EPM, they often limit flexibility and tear strength. The incorporation of sulfidic crosslinks alongside peroxide-derived linkages enhances flexibility and stress strain performance without sacrificing high temperature capability. This hybrid curing route thus provides a promising strategy for developing advanced flexible EPM composites for applications demanding contradictory property requirements and higher thermal ratings than EPDM.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1681598</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1681598</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Skin wound healing part II: from traditional cataplasm to advanced wound dressings]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Amanda Guadalupe Romero</author><author>Andrea Paola Rodriguez</author><author>Silvia Noemi Kozuszko</author><author>Kenichi Nagano</author><author>Carmelo José Felice</author><author>Naoki Katase</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The first part of this review summarizes fundamental wound-healing biology and advances a novel, integrative roadmap for developing next-generation wound technologies that weave together ancestral knowledges and modern biomaterials science, analyzing recent evidence and translational opportunities in that direction. It also examines clinical trials, patents, regulatory issues, and epistemological challenges around medicinal plants. (DOI). This second part delves into historical poultices and the plants used to make them, summarizing reported medicinal effects, key phytochemicals, and mechanisms for topical wound and inflammation modulation. It follows the translation of these materia medica into modern technologies identifying translational routes and technical gaps. In addition, the review examines the validation of medicinal products integrated into modern technological platforms, encompassing in vitro assays, in vivo experiments, and clinical trials. The paper argues that ancestral health paradigms, rooted in ecological knowledge and community practice, can complement biomedical frameworks across research, product design, and clinical use. It prioritizes respectful, participatory approaches that conserve biodiversity and protect the intellectual and cultural rights of source communities while centering patient autonomy and psychosocial support. Finally, it calls out critical evidence gaps and proposes methodological, ethical, and regulatory standards for rigorous ethnopharmacological validation and responsible integration of traditional poultice knowledge into contemporary wound-care innovation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1741918</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1741918</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Use of solid fat-tailored oleogels loaded with α-tocopherol as fat replacers to improve the nutritional profile of cookies]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Vanessa Oliveira Di Sarli Peixoto</author><author>Gabriela Baptista Brito</author><author>Carlos Adam Conte-Junior</author><author>Thiago Oliveira Marinho</author><author>Márcio Nele</author><author>Alexandre Guedes Torres</author><author>Vanessa Naciuk Castelo-Branco</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionOleogels containing low candelilla wax (CLW) content (<2.5%) loaded with α-tocopherol mimic the rheological properties of butter, margarine, and partially hydrogenated fat. However, their use in food to enhance vitamin E intake remains unexplored. This study investigated CLW-based oleogels loaded with α-tocopherol, developed previously to replicate the rheological properties of butter (Obtr), margarine (Omgn), and partially hydrogenated fat (Ohgf), as full replacements for these fats in cookies.MethodsDoughs and cookies containing Obtr, Omgn, or Ohgf were assessed for instrumental color, rheological, textural, and baking properties. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to investigate the clustering and similarities between oleogel-based samples and their respective reference solid fats.ResultsDoughs with oleogels exhibited a darker surface and a weaker structure compared to those with solid fats. Cookies with oleogels were darker, softer, and less crispy than those made with solid fats. Cookies with OMGN exhibited a spread factor comparable to that of margarine, although other dimensional and textural parameters differed. PCA revealed no distinct clustering between the doughs containing oleogels and those with their respective solid fats (PC1 = 56.1%; PC2 = 28.9%). However, cookies containing oleogels clustered closely with those with partially hydrogenated fat (PC1 = 58.1%; PC2 = 38.8%), suggesting that reproducing the functional response of partially hydrogenated fat is more feasible than that of butter or margarine.ResultsTherefore, oleogels with low CLW content loaded with α-tocopherol present a promising alternative for replacing hydrogenated fats in cookies formulations.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1708264</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1708264</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The influence of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) on the lipid sponge phase system]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-12-18T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Marshall R. Machingauta</author><author>Aina McEvoy</author><author>Alma Karlsson</author><author>Justas Barauskas</author><author>Tommy Nylander</author><author>Jennifer Gilbert</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in pharmaceutical and food applications has gained momentum due to their capacity to encapsulate a wide range of biomolecules. Previous studies have demonstrated the effective entrapment of enzymes within lipid sponge nanoparticles, highlighting their potential as versatile delivery vehicles. Similar to inverse bicontinuous cubic phases, the sponge phase features a network of aqueous cavities separated by curved lipid bilayers, but with a more flexible structure and larger water cavities. The objective of this study is to determine how the lipid composition affects the sponge phase properties. Based on food-grade lipid mixtures of the glycerol monooleate-rich lipid mixture (GMO-50), diglycerol monooleate (DGMO), polysorbate 80 (P80), and water, which are known to form sponge phases, we have studied the incorporation of the zwitterionic phospholipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC). This is of particular interest due to its potential to increase the biocompatibility of the formulation. Using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM), we show that DOPC generally promotes the formation of lamellar phases at 25 °C, but sponge phases can be preserved by adjusting GMO-50/DOPC ratios, adding P80, or increasing the temperature to 40 °C. Dispersions in excess water yielded mixtures of sponge nanoparticles and vesicles, while diluting the LNPs in buffers with higher ionic strength (PBS and cell medium) induced multilamellar vesicle formation. These results demonstrate that DOPC provides a tunable handle on lipid nanostructures, enabling temperature and medium-responsive systems, and that the surrounding medium can restructure nanoparticles even after formation. This underscores the importance of considering both the conditions of nanoparticle assembly and their response to new environments, with direct implications for biopharmaceutical performance.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1683717</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1683717</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Skin wound healing part I: ancestral and modern medicines for the development of new technologies]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-12-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Andrea Paola Rodriguez</author><author>Amanda Guadalupe Romero</author><author>Silvia Noemi Kozuszko</author><author>Lucca Comotti</author><author>Kenichi Nagano</author><author>Carmelo José Felice</author><author>Naoki Katase</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The human body, once regarded primarily as a spiritual vessel, is now understood as a highly complex biological system governed by intricate cellular and molecular processes. As civilizations and technologies have evolved, so too have the methodologies, materials, and epistemologies surrounding wound care. From herbal applications in ancient cultures to the development of bioengineered dressings in contemporary medicine, the field of wound healing reflects a continuous trajectory of innovation and adaptation. This review presents a concise overview of wound management practices across diverse cultural contexts, highlighting the contributions of ancestral knowledge systems. It further examines the current landscape of wound dressing technologies, with particular emphasis on soft materials engineered, such as polymers, gels, and foams, to optimize healing outcomes in both acute and chronic wounds. In seeking deeper integration of ancestral knowledge into biomedical innovation, this review explores clinical trials, patent activity, regulatory standards, and epistemological considerations related to medicinal plant applications. By honoring origin and embracing plural knowledge systems, we aim to advance the development of wound care nanotechnologies that are not only scientifically robust but also culturally inclusive, ethically grounded, and accessible across diverse healthcare settings. The second part of this review summarizes tissue engineering in the market and clinical trials, plant-based remedies and pharmacopoeias, medicinal activities of the plants, analyzing skin wound healing from traditional cataplasm to advanced wound dressings within a holistic framework.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1588404</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1588404</link>
        <title><![CDATA[From simulation to reality: experimental analysis of a quantum entanglement simulation with slime molds (Physarum polycephalum) as bioelectronic components]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-10-08T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Markus Schmidt</author><author>Günter Seyfried</author><author>Uliana Reutina</author><author>Zeki Seskir</author><author>Eduardo R. Miranda</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study investigates whether it is possible to simulate quantum entanglement with theoretical memristor models, physical memristors (from Knowm Inc.) and slime molds Physarum polycephalum as bioelectric components. While the simulation with theoretical memristor models has been demonstrated in the literature, real-world experiments with electric and bioelectric components had not been done so far. Our analysis focused on identifying hysteresis curves in the voltage-current (I-V) relationship, a characteristic signature of memristive devices. Although the physical memristor produced I-V diagrams that resembled more or less hysteresis curves, the small parasitic capacitance introduced significant problems for the planned entanglement simulation. In case of the slime molds, and unlike what was reported in the literature, the I-V diagrams did not produce a memristive behavior and thus could not be used to simulate quantum entanglement. Finally, we designed replacement circuits for the slime mold and suggested alternative uses of this bioelectric component.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1658466</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1658466</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Recent advances in lyotropic liquid crystal nanoparticle formulations for drug delivery systems]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-09-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Paranthaman Subash</author><author>Sulekha Khute</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC) nanoparticles have gained significant attention as drug delivery systems owing to their unique self-assembly properties, biocompatibility, and ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. This chapter explores recent advances in LLC formulations, focusing on their structural classification, physicochemical properties, and applications in controlled-drug delivery. Various mesophases, including lamellar, cubic, and hexagonal structures, have been discussed, highlighting their roles in controlled release. A comparative analysis reveals that cubic phases offer superior structural stability for sustained release, while hexagonal phases excel in high-viscosity applications, though their complex preparation limits scalability. In addition, key characterization techniques such as small-angle X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, and rheology are examined to offer insights into their stability and performance. Furthermore, the development of in situ gelling precursor systems and their applications in oral, transdermal, ocular, nasal, injectable, and periodontal drug delivery have been explored. The incorporation of stimuli-responsive materials into LLC systems enhances their adaptability to personalized medicine and advanced therapeutic strategies. Despite these advancements, challenges such as scalability, long-term stability, and clinical translation remain unresolved. This chapter highlights the potential of LLC nanoparticles to revolutionize modern drug delivery by improving bioavailability, therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. Future research should focus on optimizing formulation strategies and exploring novel biomaterials to expand the clinical utility of LLC-based drug delivery systems.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1579973</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1579973</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation for the monitoring of red wine colloids and macromolecules throughout the winemaking process]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-05-19T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Daniel E. Osorio-Macías</author><author>Raúl Ferrer-Gallego</author><author>Jaeyeong Choi</author><author>Björn Bergenståhl</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Colloids and macromolecules are the major compounds in wine particulate matter and play an important role in many wine properties that change during the winemaking process. However, methodologies are lacking to characterize and quantify the changes these compounds undergo throughout the process. This work uses asymmetric flow-field fractionation coupled to multiple detectors (AF4–MALS–dRI–UV) to separate, characterize, and quantify colloidal and macromolecular properties. Furthermore it provides useful information on the evolution and dynamics of these colloidal and macromolecular fractions throughout five winemaking stages. The results showed that the (AF4–MALS–dRI–UV) technique allows monitoring changes in specific colloidal and macromolecular properties during the winemaking process. In this study, three populations were separated and classified according to their nature and main properties throughout the winemaking process. It was observed that concentration, c, and specific absorptivity (ɛ) tend to vary more depending on the wine variety and the vinification stage. However, the maturation and aging stages tended to stabilize changes in the early stages. In contrast, properties such as hydrodynamic radius (rH), molar mass (MW) and regularly the apparent density (p^) tend to remain more stable as the winemaking process progresses. The results demonstrated the use of AF4–MALS–dRI–UV as a robust and feasible technique to separate the wine particle matter and to monitor fundamental colloidal and macromolecular properties in a wide variety of samples without the support of additional techniques throughout the winemaking process.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1550393</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1550393</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Critical bifurcations in deformable membrane necks under inhomogeneous curvature: constriction frustration vs. abscissional elongation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-04-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Adriana Aguilar-Maldonado</author><author>Francisco Monroy</author><author>José A. Santiago</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Catenoid necks, as minimal surfaces with zero mean curvature (K=0), minimize bending energy and serve as geometric scaffolds for scissional membrane remodeling. We apply the Canham–Helfrich model of flexible membranes to analyze deformable spontaneous curvature (K0), a key regulator of membrane scission events in cellular compartmentalization. To model functional membrane necking, we examine deformed catenoidal shapes with variable mean curvature (δK≠0) near the minimal-energy catenoid (K=0), which varies along either the constrictional or elongational pathways. Using the Euler–Lagrange equilibrium equations, we derive inhomogeneous catenoid solutions, revealing metastable singularities departing from the critical catenoid of the maximal area—a tipping point (TP) for scission. Using functional second-derivative analysis, we further examine how inhomogeneous K0 affects stability. The transition between frustrated constriction and abscissional elongation is numerically analyzed through conformal solutions to the governing inhomogeneous K0− field.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1530439</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1530439</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Gelsolin-mediated actin filament severing, mechanics, and conformational changes at neutral and acidic pH]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-03-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Taylor V. Douglas</author><author>Claire A. Toland</author><author>Sydney A. Paulin</author><author>Nicholas Castaneda</author><author>Laurene Tetard</author><author>Ellen H. Kang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Gelsolin is a calcium (Ca2+) dependent, pH sensitive actin-binding protein that regulates actin filament dynamics to remodel the actin cytoskeleton. It is known that gelsolin binding induces conformational changes of actin filaments, leading to filament severing. However, the influence of physiological conditions, such as pH variations, on gelsolin-mediated filament severing activities, mechanics and conformations remains unclear despite their role in actin-actin interactions. Using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy imaging and pyrene fluorescence assays, we demonstrate that filament severing efficiencies by gelsolin are enhanced in acidic conditions. In addition, analysis of filament thermal fluctuations using TIRF reveals that gelsolin binding stiffens actin filaments. Furthermore, we show that gelsolin binding induces conformational changes in filaments by measuring the filament half-pitch using high resolution Atomic Force Microscopy imaging. Together, our results suggest that pH modulation plays a key role in gelsolin-mediated filament severing activities, bending mechanics, and conformational changes, which have implications in many cellular processes including cell motility and morphogenesis.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1527707</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2025.1527707</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Rheology of concentrated crystal suspensions: sucrose fondants as hard particles in soft matter]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-02-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Hannah M. Hartge</author><author>Eckhard Flöter</author><author>Thomas A. Vilgis</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Hard particle dispersions are abundant in food as well as technical applications. In particular, the production of many candies like fondants, crystalline sugars or creamed honeys involves agitation of concentrated suspensions of microscopic crystals in saturated solutions. However, the complex rheological behavior of such non-colloidal suspensions with poly-disperse, irregular particles is not fully understood. This work investigates different sucrose suspensions with a particle volume fraction of about 50%. After detailed image analysis of the varying particle size distributions and shapes, the flow properties are investigated by oscillatory rheology. Amplitude sweeps, frequency sweeps and thixotropy tests show the dependency of rheological behavior on the microstructure of the suspensions. In particular, all samples show characteristic strain softening with subsequent strain hardening that indicates jamming at large strains. This is observed irrespective of specifics in the particle shape and material, suggesting universal behavior due to the high particle volume fraction. They also show significant time-dependent behavior. However, sedimentation rates are higher and structure rebuilding is lower for larger particle sizes and dispersity. The observed strain softening and structure rebuilding are explained by rearrangement of the crystals: Under moderate strain amplitudes, friction and collisions are minimized, with a larger optimization potential for larger dispersities. When oscillations are reduced again, mainly small particles re-arrange in an arbitrary order over time, leading to an increase in loss and storage modulus and thus thixotropic behavior. This time-dependent process needs to be taken into account when measuring or processing concentrated crystal suspensions. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of concentrated suspensions simple in composition, but complex in their flow properties. The observed behavior strongly depends on the particle-particle interactions. Thus, our findings can be transferred to other areas involving concentrated, non-Brownian frictional suspensions of compact hard particles, as they are often found in food, technical applications or geology.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2024.1548411</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2024.1548411</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Editors’ showcase 2023: self-assembly and self-organisation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-01-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Tommy Nylander</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2024.1518796</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2024.1518796</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Nanoparticles in thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-01-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Chung-Hao Chen</author><author>Ingo Dierking</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Over the last few decades many applications of liquid crystals have been developed, including the widely employed technology of low-power, flat-panel liquid crystal displays (LCDs), but also sensors, photonic devices and other non-display applications employed in medicine and drug delivery. In recent years, the research trends have shifted in other directions. Nanotechnology and nanoscience have garnered significant attention in liquid crystal research since various nanomaterials or nanoparticles (NPs) can be added directly to the liquid crystalline mesogenic phases. The main idea is to modify the physical properties of liquid crystals or to increase their functionality through the addition of nanomaterials, but also to exploit the self-assembly and spontaneous ordering of LCs into structures or patterns that can be templated by dispersed particles. The neat liquid crystals and the doped nanoparticles/nanomaterials exhibit different behaviours when mixed together. The nanoparticles can influence the alignment and orientation of liquid crystals, and their interaction with the liquid crystals causes the changes in the optical, electrical, and mechanical characteristics of the composite. At the same time the liquid crystal can affect the ordering, structuring and properties of the nanomaterials, for example by transfer of helical order. In this review, we discuss the effects of nanoparticles dispersed in liquid crystals. Several categories of nanomaterials such as metallic, carbon allotropes, nanorod and nanowires will be introduced, together with particles of additional functionality, like ferroelectricity, semiconductors and quantum dots. The combination of liquid crystals and nanoparticles leads to a wide range of applications and novel technologies.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2024.1448615</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2024.1448615</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Formation of linear arrays of holes in self-assembled collagen films]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-08-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Research Report</category>
        <author>Melis Erkan</author><author>Kaitlyn Blakney</author><author>Emily Andrews</author><author>Reagan Leslie</author><author>Eda Ozsan</author><author>Laurent Kreplak</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Collagen is one of the main constituents of mammalian extracellular matrix and is used extensively as a coating for tissue culture dishes and medical implants to promote cell growth and proliferation. By modulating the topography of the collagen coating at the nanometer to micrometer length scales, it is possible to achieve spatial control over cell growth and morphology. In this work, we are exploring the self-assembly of a thin collagen film on a glass substrate as a way to create new nanoscale surface features. By controlling the collagen concentration and adding an oscillatory flow, we are able to enrich the collagen film surface with a localized pattern of ripples oriented perpendicular to the flow direction. We propose that these ripples are the result of dewetting of the collagen film that leads to the formation of adjacent holes. We observe that individual holes form with an anisotropic rim due to the microstructure of the deposited collagen fibril network. This intrinsic anisotropy and the oscillatory flow yield new holes being formed in the film next to existing rims. As holes keep growing deeper, the rims extend along the flow direction, and the holes appear rectangular in shape, which gives the linear array of holes the apparent morphology of a ripple. Overall, we are able to create localized ripples at the surface of collagen films that would be difficult to produce via standard nanofabrication techniques.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2024.1402702</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2024.1402702</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Using QSAR to predict polymer-drug interactions for drug delivery]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-07-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Alison W. Xin</author><author>Edgardo Rivera-Delgado</author><author>Horst A. von Recum</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Affinity-mediated drug delivery utilizes electrostatic, hydrophobic, or other non-covalent interactions between molecules and a polymer to extend the timeframe of drug release. Cyclodextrin polymers exhibit affinity interaction, however, experimentally testing drug candidates for affinity is time-consuming, making computational predictions more effective. One option, docking programs, provide predictions of affinity, but lack reliability, as their accuracy with cyclodextrin remains unverified experimentally. Alternatively, quantitative structure-activity relationship models (QSARs), which analyze statistical relationships between molecular properties, appear more promising. Previously constructed QSARs for cyclodextrin are not publicly available, necessitating an openly accessible model. Around 600 experimental affinities between cyclodextrin and guest molecules were cleaned and imported from published research. The software PaDEL-Descriptor calculated over 1,000 chemical descriptors for each molecule, which were then analyzed with R to create several QSARs with different statistical methods. These QSARs proved highly time efficient, calculating in minutes what docking programs could accomplish in hours. Additionally, on test sets, QSARs reached R2 values of around 0.7–0.8. The speed, accuracy, and accessibility of these QSARs improve evaluation of individual drugs and facilitate screening of large datasets for potential candidates in cyclodextrin affinity-based delivery systems. An app was built to rapidly access model predictions for end users using the Shiny library. To demonstrate the usability for drug release planning, the QSAR predictions were coupled with a mechanistic model of diffusion within the app. Integrating new modules should provide an accessible approach to use other cheminformatic tools in the field of drug delivery.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2024.1385512</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2024.1385512</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Effects of multiple relaxation times in the annular flow of pulsatile electro-osmotic flow of a complex biological fluid: blood with low and high cholesterol]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-06-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Edtson Emilio Herrera-Valencia</author><author>Luis Antonio Ramírez-Torres</author><author>Catalina Soriano-Correa</author><author>Mayra Luz Sánchez-Villavicencio</author><author>Oscar Bautista</author><author>Vicente Jesús Hernández-Abad</author><author>Fausto Calderas</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study investigates the electro-osmotic flow of a biological fluid (blood with varying cholesterol levels) in annular flow to simulate a first approximation to arterial occlusion. The fluid´s rheology is characterized by a multi-modal convected Maxwell model equation. The charge density follows the Boltzmann distribution, governing the electrical field. Mathematically, this scenario can be modeled by the Poisson–Boltzmann partial differential equation. Assuming a small zeta potential (less than 25 mV) using the Debye–Huckel approximation and considering a pulsatile electrical field, analytical solutions are derived using the Fourier transform formalism. These solutions, expressed in terms of the modified Bessel function, provide transfer functions for axial velocity and volumetric flow as functions of material parameters represented by characteristic dimensionless numbers. This study further analyzes thermal, electric, inertial, viscoelastic, and various interactions within the plasma, hematocrit, hematocrit–cholesterol, and cholesterol–cholesterol as well as weight concentration through numerical simulations. Finally, the flow and rheology predictions are validated using experimental data on human blood with varying cholesterol levels. The obtained transfer functions reveal that the electric–thermal–viscoelastic effects and the multiple geometric relationships contribute to the dynamic response of the interactions between the input electrical field and output volumetric flow and shear stress functions, leading to and evolution of resonance curves. It is noteworthy that electro-osmotic flow in blood with pathologies associated with low and high cholesterol has been scarcely reported in the literature on rheology. Thus, this work represents a significant contribution to the field.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2024.1359128</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2024.1359128</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Geometric modeling of phase ordering for the isotropic–smectic A phase transition]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-05-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>David Uriel Zamora Cisneros</author><author>Ziheng Wang</author><author>Noémie-Manuelle Dorval Courchesne</author><author>Matthew J. Harrington</author><author>Alejandro D. Rey</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundLiquid crystal (LC) mesophases have an orientational and positional order that can be found in both synthetic and biological materials. These orders are maintained until some parameter, mainly the temperature or concentration, is changed, inducing a phase transition. Among these transitions, a special sequence of mesophases has been observed, in which priority is given to the direct smectic liquid crystal transition. The description of these transitions is carried out using the Landau–de Gennes (LdG) model, which correlates the free energy of the system with the orientational and positional order.MethodologyThis work explored the direct isotropic-to-smectic A transition studying the free energy landscape constructed with the LdG model and its relation to three curve families: (I) level-set curves, steepest descent, and critical points; (II) lines of curvature (LOC) and geodesics, which are directly connected to the principal curvatures; and (III) the Casorati curvature and shape coefficient that describe the local surface geometries resemblance (sphere, cylinder, and saddle).ResultsThe experimental data on 12-cyanobiphenyl were used to study the three curve families. The presence of unstable nematic and metastable plastic crystal information was found to add information to the already developed smectic A phase diagram. The lines of curvature and geodesics were calculated and laid out on the energy landscape, which highlighted the energetic pathways connecting critical points. The Casorati curvature and shape coefficient were computed, and in addition to the previous family, they framed a geometric region that describes the phase transition zone.Conclusion and significanceA direct link between the energy landscape’s topological geometry, phase transitions, and relevant critical points was established. The shape coefficient delineates a stability zone in which the phase transition develops. The methodology significantly reduces the impact of unknown parametric data. Symmetry breaking with two order parameters (OPs) may lead to novel phase transformation kinetics and droplets with partially ordered surface structures.]]></description>
      </item>
      </channel>
    </rss>