Polymer translocation through a nanopore driven by binding particles: Influence of chain rigidity

Wancheng Yu and Kaifu Luo
Phys. Rev. E 90, 042708 – Published 10 October 2014

Abstract

We investigate the influence of chain rigidity on the dynamics of polymer translocation in the presence of binding particles (BPs) through a nanopore using two-dimensional Langevin dynamics simulations. With increasing chain rigidity κ, the mean translocation time τ increases monotonically due to an increase in the radius of gyration and a decrease in the center of mass velocity. Particularly for weak binding, we further find that τ shows a power-law behavior with the persistence length lp. Analysis indicates a scaling relation between the average velocity of the center of mass of a chain vc.m. and lp. As the chain becomes stiffer, the distribution of the translocation time τ approximates the Gaussian distribution and gets broader with the peak position being shifted towards longer translocation time. The corresponding translocation coordinate smax of the maximum waiting time gets smaller with increasing chain rigidity. Finally, under an extremely low BP concentration, τ shows a minimum for small κ, while it decreases monotonically for large κ with increasing binding energy. Our results suggest a nontrivial effect of the intrinsic property of chains on the dynamics of polymer translocation driven by BPs.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
3 More
  • Received 9 April 2014
  • Revised 14 August 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.90.042708

©2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Wancheng Yu and Kaifu Luo*

  • CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui Province 230026, People's Republic of China

  • *Author to whom the correspondence should be addressed: kluo@ustc.edu.cn

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 90, Iss. 4 — October 2014

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review E

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×