Reactive organization of particles into macroscopic length scales by myelin growth

Investigations of precipitation reactions in equilibrium self-assembled str uctures like vesicles, micelles, microemulsions, etc. is an active area of research, but growing biological systems are not equilibrium systems. Here we propose the use of a well-characterized nonequilibrium system of myelins in AOT/water to carry out precipitation reaction of CaCO3, It is found tha t the micro-flow patterns generated by myelin growth organize the particles formed into a chain of length of over 300 microns and whose form and struc ture are responsive to concentration of reactants and stresses in the syste m. It is suggested that this type of study of reactions in dynamic, structu re-forming systems can be used to mimic some aspects of embryonic stage bon e; growth.