{
  "abstract": "The capacity for autonomous structural reconfiguration is a defining trait of living systems, yet it remains elusive in artificial active matter. Here, we report the discovery of active embracement, a non-equilibrium phenomenon where active star polymers, comprising a central core and self-propelled monomeric arms, transition from open configurations to tightly collapsed, ``hugging'' states. By combining polymer experiments using connected vibrobots with simulations, we demonstrate that internal self-propulsion fundamentally overrides the steric repulsion that keeps passive polymers dispersed. This active drive enables a suite of behaviors unattainable in equilibrium systems: individual star polymers undergo a globular-like self-collapse, multiple star polymers mutually intertwine and mutually embrace, and can spontaneously embrace and capture surrounding passive particles. Our findings reveal that active embracement is a distinct kinetic phase that allows star polymers to function as autonomous tweezers. By bridging the gap between macroscopic robotic collectives and microscopic polymer physics, this work provides a versatile blueprint for the design of smart materials capable of targeted cargo capture and self-directed assembly in complex environments.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2608.29728",
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Marco Musacchio"
    },
    {
      "name": "Davide Breoni"
    },
    {
      "name": "Iman Abdoli"
    },
    {
      "name": "Luca Tubiana"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hartmut Löwen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lorenzo Caprini"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b7z3ksnsde0x9.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2608.29728",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "b7z3ksnsde0x9",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.29728",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.soft"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.stat-mech"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3104|Micro and Nano Robotics"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204932117",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2608.29728",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-30",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b7z3ksnsde0x9.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:41Z",
      "native_id": "2608.29728",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.29728"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.soft",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.stat-mech",
      "subfield": "statistical-nonlinear"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Active embracement enables autonomous tweezing in active star polymers",
  "title_text": "Active embracement enables autonomous tweezing in active star polymers",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b7z3ksnsde0x9",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}