Self-contracting vascular networks: From fluid transport to autonomous locomotion of soft materials

Introduction

Liquid flows in vascular networks are among the most effective ways to transport matter and information for life. Artificial vascular networks have mimicked this strategy without reproducing the same level of autonomy and adaptability. From animals to fungi, the most adaptable organisms control fluid transport with vessels that actively contract upon local sensing of stimuli.

Adaptative Fluid Transport

This adaptative fluid transport enables functionalities in organisms such as autonomous locomotion toward objectives. How are the orientation and rate of fluid flows controlled by self-contractions? How do these self-contracting networks tailor autonomous functionalities? So far, we do not know. Studies on organisms are limited to observations and lack the systematical characterizations required to apply these observations to artificial materials.

Hypothesis

Self-Flow hypothesizes that artificial vascular networks containing distributed sensors and actuators can decipher how self-contractions enable adaptable fluid transport. From there, materials containing self-contracting artificial vascular networks will enable systematical studies on the emergence of autonomous functionalities.

Research Questions

With this experimental asset reinforced by theoretical and numerical models, my group and I will address the following questions:

1. Q1 DELIVER: How do self-contractions transport fluids across networks?
2. Q2 ADAPT: How do self-contractions autonomously adapt to the needs of the network?
3. Q3 BEHAVE: How do self-contractions enable living matter functionalities?

Methodology

Self-Flow will combine active matter and mechanistic approaches to model fluid transport in self-contracting vascular networks. I will use these results to design active vascularized materials that use fluid transfer to autonomously locomote towards objectives and exchange information with their peers.

Future Implications

This will open the way to autonomous robots that can change shape, split or recombine like soft materials and develop functionalities beyond locomotion.