Stretching a Polymer Chain in a Confined Space

LI Kai; YE Tianyu; WANG Jizeng

doi:10.21656/1000-0887.420279

Volume 42 Issue 10

Oct. 2021

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LI Kai, YE Tianyu, WANG Jizeng. Stretching a Polymer Chain in a Confined Space[J]. Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, 2021, 42(10): 1008-1023. doi: 10.21656/1000-0887.420279

Citation:

LI Kai, YE Tianyu, WANG Jizeng. Stretching a Polymer Chain in a Confined Space[J]. Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, 2021, 42(10): 1008-1023. doi: 10.21656/1000-0887.420279

Citation:

LI Kai, YE Tianyu, WANG Jizeng. Stretching a Polymer Chain in a Confined Space[J]. Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, 2021, 42(10): 1008-1023. doi: 10.21656/1000-0887.420279

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Stretching a Polymer Chain in a Confined Space

doi: 10.21656/1000-0887.420279

Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China, The Ministry of Education of China, College of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P.R.China

Received Date: 2021-09-13
Rev Recd Date: 2021-09-27

Abstract

Abstract

The quantitative characterization of micromechanical properties of polymer biomaterials and the development of advanced biological micro-/nano- technology and devices need to quantitatively analyze the statistical thermodynamic properties and behaviors of polymer chains such as biological macromolecules in complex microenvironment. In the process of achieving this goal, the cross research of continuum mechanics and statistical thermodynamics plays a very important role. Aiming at the mechanics problems in this field, starting from the force stretching of DNA molecules, and by introducing several theoretical models describing the statistical thermodynamic properties of polymer chains, it is pointed out that the wormlike chain model has more significant advantages in describing the relationship between force and configuration change of semi-flexible polymer chains than other ideal random chain models, so that the qualitative and quantitative understanding of the statistical thermodynamic properties and behavior of polymers in complex microenvironment has become largely dependent on the relevant research progresses based on the wormlike chain model. Based on this fact, by reviewing the research on the influence of geometric constraints on the random conformation distribution of polymer chains, the research on the statistical thermodynamic model of polymer chains under the simultaneous action of tension and constraints, and the simulation research on the statistical physical properties of polymer chains based on high-performance computers, the latest progress and challenging problems in the research of statistical thermodynamic properties and behavior of worm chains under different constraints and stress microenvironments are summarized. Finally, through summary and analysis, it is pointed out that the study of statistical thermodynamics of worm chain in complex microenvironment is an important basis for understanding life phenomena from the molecular and cell scale, developing advanced micro- and nano- technology and constructing the constitutive relationship of soft matter. At present, it has become a very challenging frontier topic in the interdisciplinary of mechanics.
- polymer chain,
- DNA,
- wormlike chain model,
- stretching,
- confinement,
- statistical thermodynamics

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References(88)

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