Self-organized sorting of heterotypic agents via a chemotaxis paradigm

Cell sorting is a fundamental phenomenon in morphogenesis, a process that leads to shape formation in living organisms. The sorting of heterotypic cell populations is produced by a variety of inter-cellular actions, e.g. differential chemotactic response, adhesion, rigidity, and motility. Via a process called chemotaxis, living cells respond to chemicals released by other cells into the environment. Inspired by the biological phenomena of chemotaxis and cell sorting in heterotypic cell aggregates, we propose a chemotaxis-based algorithm that sorts self-organizing heterotypic agents. In our algorithm, two types of agents are initially randomly placed in a toroidal environment. Agents emit a chemical signal and interact with nearby agents. Given the appropriate parameters, the two kinds of agents self-organize into a complex aggregate consisting of a single group of one type of agent surrounded by agents of the second type. This paper describes the chemotaxis-based sorting algorithm, the behaviors of our self-organizing heterotypic agents, evaluation of the final aggregates and parametric studies of the algorithm.

► Chemotaxis-based algorithm that directs heterotypic agents to self-organize.
► Mixed agents self-sort into a central core surrounded by an enclosing layer.
► Agents emit different types of chemicals and follow the field gradients.
► Agent behaviors are based on local interactions with neighbors.
► Studies show how agent and environmental parameters affect sorting results.