Flow-induced translocation of polymers through a fluidic channel: a dissipative particle dynamics simulation study

Area of Science:

• Computational physics
• Polymer physics
• Soft matter science

Background:

• Understanding polymer and DNA translocation through channels is crucial for nanotechnology and molecular biology.
• Traditional models often simplify complex solvent and hydrodynamic interactions.
• Explicit solvent models offer a more realistic simulation environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the dynamics of polymer translocation through a fluidic channel using an advanced simulation method.
• To analyze the relationship between polymer chain length and translocation time.
• To characterize the conformational changes and translocation mechanisms of polymers.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a modified dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) approach with explicit solvent particles.
• Implemented no-slip wall and adaptive boundary conditions to accurately model fluidic channel hydrodynamics.
• Simulated polymer dynamics and conformational changes during translocation.

Main Results:

• Discovered a power-law scaling relationship between average translocation time (τ) and polymer chain length (N): τ ∼N(1.152).
• Observed and detailed two distinct translocation processes: single-file and double-folded events.
• Characterized the conformational dynamics of polymers during channel transit.

Conclusions:

• The DPD approach effectively captures essential many-body energetic and hydrodynamic interactions.
• The findings provide insights into the scaling laws governing polymer translocation.
• This research contributes to understanding the complex behavior of polymers and DNA during translocation, with implications for biosensing and nanopore technologies.