Active chains in microfluidic channels
The ability to manipulate and organize the collective motion of droplets, cells and filaments in microfluidic channels is relevant to numerous applications in biology and physics, including lab-on-chip applications and the self-assembly of colloids and active materials. Here, I will present a first-principles theory that describes the behavior of passive and active particles and filaments in microfluidic confinement under various external flow conditions. Hydrodynamic interactions between particles lead to interesting and new transitions in the patterns that emerge at the population level, including the development of phonons and density shock waves. These findings could be used to guide the design of novel mechanisms for particle manipulation and control in high-throughput microfluidic devices.