{
  "abstract": "Biomolecular condensates can undergo striking changes, such as transitioning from a liquid-like to a gel- or a solid-like aggregate due to changes in molecular interactions in response to changes in the biochemical environment. The question of how modified molecular interactions lead to such a transition in the material properties and spatial organization of condensates has not yet been elucidated. To address this question, we represent the biochemical environment as a triphasic mixture comprising a liquid-like protein-rich phase, a network-like protein-rich phase, and solvent. Owing to a change in the biochemical environment, protein molecules can reversibly switch between two conformational states. In a switched conformational state, the cross-linking domains of molecules are exposed which promote transient network formation in phase separated states. We develop a transient-network model and a continuum framework that couples phase separation, molecular switching, and dynamic cross-linking to predict condensate morphology and mechanics. The transient-network model predicts that a non-aging network behaves like a Maxwell fluid. When a network slowly ages via stabilization of cross-links, it shows Maxwell-like behavior and waiting time-dependent relaxation. However, a strongly aged network shows elastic recoil like characteristic of a Kelvin-Voigt solid. Our coupled continuum model demonstrates that the interplay of molecular switching and dynamic cross-linking in network formation shapes the spatial organization of condensate phases. In summary, this work demonstrates a mechanistic route explaining how conformational switching and molecular cross-linking regulate material properties and morphology of condensates.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2608.23076",
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Bhanjan Debnath"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ae834evp1ezch.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2608.23076",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "ae834evp1ezch",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.23076",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.soft"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.bio-ph"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|RNA Research and Splicing"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204180931",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2608.23076",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-04",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ae834evp1ezch.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-05T15:20:56Z",
      "native_id": "2608.23076",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.23076"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.bio-ph",
      "subfield": "biological-medical"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.soft",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A Transient-Network Model of Condensate Aging and Morphology Transition in Phase Separation",
  "title_text": "A Transient-Network Model of Condensate Aging and Morphology Transition in Phase Separation",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T00:20:13Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ae834evp1ezch",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}