The effect of particle geometry on squirming through a shear-thinning fluid

Biological and artificial microswimmers often encounter fluid media with non-Newtonian rheological properties. In particular, many biological fluids such as blood mucus are shear-thinning. Recent studies have demonstrated how shear-thinning rheology can impact substantially the propulsion performance in different manners. this work, we examine effect of geometrical shape upon locomotion a using prolate spheroidal squirmer model. We use combination asymptotic analysis numerical simulations to quantify particle geometry impacts speed energetic cost swimming. The results demonstrate advantages over spherical swimmers terms both swimming efficiency when squirming through fluid. More generally, findings suggest possibility tuning swimmer better exploit behaviours for more effective complex fluids.