Dampening effects on the polymerization rate of actin gel surface growth

This letter addresses the delicate balance between a local surface growth mechanism, driven by actin polymerization, and the resulting macroscopic stress field, with emphasis on the effect of external dampening on the growth process. In connection with available experimental studies, we consider a spherically symmetric setting in which new mass is constantly being formed on the surface of a bead. In that unique growth process the previously formed layers are constantly being pushed outwards by new mass, thus resulting in an internal stress field which, in turn, effects the growth process. It is shown that external dampening effects the growth rate as well as the steady-state thickness in the treadmilling regime.