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Updated: Oct 5, 2026

Synthetic Condensates and Cell-Like Architectures from Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures
Published on: May 31, 2024
Osmotic properties of DNA: critical evaluation of counterion condensation theory
P L Hansen1, R Podgornik, V A Parsegian
1Laboratory of Physical and Structural Biology National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-5626, USA.
Abstract:
The osmotic coefficient of B-DNA in water may, in dilute solutions, deviate by as much as 100% from predictions based on a simple line-charge "counterion condensation" theory. In contrast, a cell model description of the ionic atmosphere near a cylindrical polyelectrolyte predicts osmotic properties that are in surprisingly good harmony with all available experimental findings over a wide range of DNA concentrations. We argue that the neglect of molecular features, such as finite radius, makes line-charge condensation theory inapplicable at all but impractically low polyelectrolyte concentrations.
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