# Self-organization and shape change by active polarization in nematic droplets

Source: [Self-organization and shape change by active polarization in nematic droplets](<https://www.sota2.com/research/paper/68fa3e151e209131ce8e53a1>)

Collection index: [llms.txt](<https://www.sota2.com/research/llms.txt>)

Data updated: 2025-10-25T01:51:03.764Z

Authors: Fabian Jan Schwarzendahl, Pierre Ronceray, Kimberly L. Weirich, Kinjal Dasbiswas

Published: 2021-02-15T10:25:11.000Z

## Abstract

Active forces occurring within cells can drive crucial biological processes that involve spontaneous organization and shape change, such as cell division. Motivated by recent in vitro experiments of nematic droplets of cytoskeletal filaments and motors that self-organize and divide, we present a minimal hydrodynamic model that combines the nonequilibrium kinetics of motor-filament interactions with equilibrium nematic phase separation. The motors organize within droplets and structure filaments into polarized aster defects. At large motor activity, they can even deform or divide the droplet, or form multi-aster chains of droplets. Our predicted phase diagram recapitulates these experimentally observed shapes.

## Recorded benchmark results

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## Original sources and implementation

[Original paper](<https://arxiv.org/abs/2102.07442>)

[PDF](<https://arxiv.org/pdf/2102.07442.pdf>)