We model the transport of a microscopic particle via a regular array of beating elastic cilia,
whose tips experience an adhesive interaction with the particle's surface. At optimal
adhesion strength, the average particle velocity is maximized. Using simulations spanning a
range of cilia stiffness and cilia–particle adhesion strength, we explore the parameter space
over which the particle can be “released”,“propelled”, or “trapped” by the cilia. We use a
lower-order model to predict parameters for which the cilia are able to “propel” the particle …