Toroidal condensates of semiflexible polymers in poor solvents: Adsorption, stretching, and compression

G. G. Pereira*, D. R.M. Williams

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    17 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    When a semiflexible polymer chain is placed in a poor solvent, or in the presence of condensing agents, a toroidal condensate can result. In typical experiments, these condensates are adsorbed to surfaces. Here we examine the changes that can occur when a toroid is adsorbed. We then examine the behavior of a toroid when stretched and identify two regimes: a weak stretching regime where the toroid deforms from a circle to an ellipse, and a strong stretching regime where a tether is pulled from the toroid. In the weak stretching regime, the force increases linearly with separation whereas in the strong stretching regime, the applied force is a constant. We then look at the case of a toroid compressed in the plane of the toroid. In this case the form of the force law depends on how strongly the toroid wets the surfaces. In general, an inverse square force law is found.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)161-168
    Number of pages8
    JournalBiophysical Journal
    Volume80
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2001

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