Polymer Translocation Time

Constraints on Knot Insertion, Not Internal Jamming, Control Polycatenane Translocation Dynamics through Crystalline Pores

The translocation of polymers through pores and channels is an archetypal process in biology and is widely studied and exploited for applications in bio- and nanotechnology. In recent times, the translocation of polymers of various different topologies has been studied both experimentally and by computer simulation. However, in some cases, a clear understanding of the precise mechanisms that drive their translocation dynamics can be challenging to derive. Experimental methods are able to provide statistical details of polymer translocation, but computer simulations are uniquely placed to uncover a finer level of mechanistic understanding. In this work, we use high-throughput molecular simulations to reveal the importance that knot insertion rates play in controlling translocation dynamics in the small pore limit, where unexpected nonpower law behavior emerges. This work both provides new predictive understanding of polycatenane translocation and shows the importance of carefully considering the role of the definition of translocation itself.

Polymer Translocation and Nanopore Sequencing: A Review of Advances and Challenges

Various biological processes involve the translocation of macromolecules across nanopores; these pores are basically protein channels embedded in membranes. Understanding the mechanism of translocation is crucial to a range of technological applications, including DNA sequencing, single molecule detection, and controlled drug delivery. In this spirit, numerous efforts have been made to develop polymer translocation-based sequencing devices, these efforts include findings and insights from theoretical modeling, simulations, and experimental studies. As much as the past and ongoing studies have added to the knowledge, the practical realization of low-cost, high-throughput sequencing devices, however, has still not been realized. There are challenges, the foremost of which is controlling the speed of translocation at the single monomer level, which remain to be addressed in order to use polymer translocation-based methods for sensing applications. In this article, we review the recent studies aimed at developing control over the dynamics of polymer translocation through nanopores.