The project aims to explore the application of microtubule-based active fluid in micron-scale mixing. Mixing is ubiquitous in science and industry, and the mixing in micron-scale enhances production efficiency in pharmaceutical developments. For example, microreactors synthesize new materials and generate product on demand to reduce the need of storing and transporting hazardous chemicals. However, mixing of fluid is a process of repeated stretching and folding driven by vortices and turbulence. It is difficult to achieve mixing in micron-scale systems because these systems have low Reynolds number and thus exhibit laminar flow. Microtubule-based active fluid, which is differentiated from passive fluid by its capability of consuming internal fuels to generate flows, composed of independently moving microtubules and therefore have the potential to enhance mixing in micron-scale systems.

The project outcomes could assist the development of a spontaneous micron-scale mixing device without external energy inputs, which would revolutionize micro-mixing technology. The student will explore the kinematics of active fluid mixing by the established active nemato-hydrodynamic equations under different boundary conditions.