Mesoscopic Modelling Of Biocolloidal Hydrodynamics

 

I. Pagonabarraga

(1)Departament de Fisica Fonamental, Universitat de Barcelona

Carrer Marti i Franques, 1

08028 Barcelona (Spain)

Email: ipagonabarraga@ub.edu

 

I will describe how to use well known methods from soft matter to study the dynamics of systems motivated biologically. In particular, I will address the effect of hydrodynamics on the motion of self-propelled particles (a simplified model for swimming microorganisms), emphasyzing their similarities and differences with colloidal suspensions. I will also analyze the role hydrodynamic plays in the dynamics of semiflexible filaments, both passive and active. An idealized model which captures inextensibility (a characteristic feature of biofilaments such as actin or microtubules) will serve to highlight the influence of hydrodynamic interactions in the motion of these systems.