Propelling catalytic structures using active phase separation
Living systems routinely consume energy to achieve motility, often using intricate biomolecular machinery. In this work, we show that active droplets can sustain indefinite self-propulsion of a spherical colloid in an otherwise homogeneous, isotropic, and autonomous environment. Our proposed minimal mechanism consists of phase-separating proteins, enzymes passivating them, and complementary enzymes anchored to the colloid surface that reactivate the proteins. This passivation-activation cycle gives rise to a symmetry breaking - nucleation and stabilization of a condensate near the colloid surface, which in turn exerts a repulsive force on the colloid. We numerically demonstrate that this mechanism can propel micron-sized colloids at speeds of up to a hundred microns per second. This propulsion mode is strongly resistant to Brownian fluctuations and external forces, suggesting that propulsion mechanisms based on biomolecular condensates may offer a complementary, motor-free route to biological transport.