Finite Temperature Phase Behavior of Viral Capsids as Oriented Particle Shells

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Materials Science
• Biophysics

Background:

• Microbiological shells are complex structures with dynamic geometries.
• Understanding their thermodynamic behavior is crucial for biological and material applications.
• Existing models often simplify shell dynamics and thermal effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a general phase plot for discrete particle shells.
• To incorporate thermal fluctuations in shell geometry and inter-particle connections.
• To interpret the thermodynamics of microbiological shells using this phase plot.

Main Methods:

• Development of a generalized phase plot framework.
• Inclusion of thermal fluctuations in geometric and connectivity parameters.
• Analysis of phase transitions within the proposed model.

Main Results:

• The phase plot identifies distinct transitions: first-order melting, buckling, and collapse.
• The model successfully accounts for thermal variations in shell structure.
• The framework provides a thermodynamic interpretation for microbiological shells.

Conclusions:

• The proposed phase plot offers a comprehensive tool for studying discrete particle shells.
• Thermal fluctuations significantly influence shell behavior and transitions.
• This approach enhances the thermodynamic understanding of microbiological shell systems.