发表机构
Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf; Universita di Trento; INFN-TIFPA, Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications; University of Rome La Sapienza（杜塞尔多夫海因里希·海涅大学; 特伦托大学; 意大利国家核物理研究所-特伦托基础物理与应用研究所; 罗马第一大学）
机构由 AI 辅助整理，请以论文原文为准。AI 中文总结
该研究发现活性星型聚合物的主动拥抱非平衡现象，可作为自主镊子实现靶向捕获，为智能材料设计提供蓝图。
AI 中文摘要
自主结构重配置能力是生命系统的标志性特征，但在人工活性物质中仍难以实现。本文报道了主动拥抱这一非平衡现象：由中心核和自驱动单体臂构成的活性星型聚合物，会从开放构型转变为紧密坍缩的“拥抱”状态。结合连接振动机器人的聚合物实验与模拟，我们证明内部自驱动从根本上克服了使被动聚合物分散的空间位阻排斥。这种主动驱动带来了平衡系统无法实现的一系列行为：单个星型聚合物发生类球状自坍缩，多个星型聚合物相互缠绕、相互拥抱，还能自发拥抱并捕获周围的被动颗粒。我们的发现表明主动拥抱是一种独特的动力学相，使星型聚合物可作为自主镊子发挥作用。通过弥合宏观机器人群体与微观聚合物物理之间的差距，本工作为设计能在复杂环境中实现靶向 cargo 捕获和自定向组装的智能材料提供了通用蓝图。
英文摘要
The capacity for autonomous structural reconfiguration is a defining trait of living systems, yet it remains elusive in artificial active matter. Here, we report the discovery of active embracement, a non-equilibrium phenomenon where active star polymers, comprising a central core and self-propelled monomeric arms, transition from open configurations to tightly collapsed, ``hugging'' states. By combining polymer experiments using connected vibrobots with simulations, we demonstrate that internal self-propulsion fundamentally overrides the steric repulsion that keeps passive polymers dispersed. This active drive enables a suite of behaviors unattainable in equilibrium systems: individual star polymers undergo a globular-like self-collapse, multiple star polymers mutually intertwine and mutually embrace, and can spontaneously embrace and capture surrounding passive particles. Our findings reveal that active embracement is a distinct kinetic phase that allows star polymers to function as autonomous tweezers. By bridging the gap between macroscopic robotic collectives and microscopic polymer physics, this work provides a versatile blueprint for the design of smart materials capable of targeted cargo capture and self-directed assembly in complex environments.
Comments17 pages, 9 figures
