Lifelike behavior of chemically oscillating mobile capsules

Inspired by the self-organization of unicellular species into multicellular organisms, we use theory and simulation to design a system of mobile, active microcapsules that produce chemicals according to a catalytic reaction network (CRN). In solution, the catalytic reactions generate a force that drives the flow of the surrounding fluid. The convective flow, in turn, transports the capsules to new chemical surroundings with each successive translation. Consequently, the chemical signal produced by a cluster of capsules is critically dependent on the proximity and spatial configuration of the neighboring capsules. If all of the capsules and chemical products involved in the CRN lie within sufficient proximity, then the system develops oscillatory behavior that drives the dynamic self-assembly of capsules into larger clusters that are capable of collective action. These simulations indicate potential chemo-mechanic mechanisms that enable single cellular units, such as ameba, to organize intomulticellular life forms.