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Vahid H, Scacchi A, Sammalkorpi M, Ala-Nissila T. Nonmonotonic electrophoretic mobility of rodlike polyelectrolytes by multivalent coions in added salt. Phys Rev E 2024; 109:014501. [PMID: 38366448 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.109.014501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
It is well established that when multivalent counterions or salts are added to a solution of highly charged polyelectrolytes (PEs), correlation effects can cause charge inversion of the PE, leading to electrophoretic mobility (EM) reversal. In this work, we use coarse-grained molecular-dynamics simulations to unravel the less understood effect of coion valency on EM reversal for rigid DNA-like PEs. We find that EM reversal induced by multivalent counterions is suppressed with increasing coion valency in the salt added and eventually vanishes. Further, we find that EM is enhanced at fixed low salt concentrations for salts with monovalent counterions when multivalent coions with increasing valency are introduced. However, increasing the salt concentration causes a crossover that leads to EM reversal which is enhanced by increasing coion valency at high salt concentration. Remarkably, this multivalent coion-induced EM reversal persists even for low values of PE linear charge densities where multivalent counterions alone cannot induce EM reversal. These results facilitate tuning PE-PE interactions and self-assembly with both coion and counterion valencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Vahid
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, 00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Alberto Scacchi
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, 00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Maria Sammalkorpi
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Tapio Ala-Nissila
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, 00076 Aalto, Finland
- Quantum Technology Finland Center of Excellence, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, 00076 Aalto, Finland
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
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Vahid H, Scacchi A, Sammalkorpi M, Ala-Nissila T. Interactions between Rigid Polyelectrolytes Mediated by Ordering and Orientation of Multivalent Nonspherical Ions in Salt Solutions. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 130:158202. [PMID: 37115871 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.130.158202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Multivalent ions in solutions with polyelectrolytes (PEs) induce electrostatic correlations that can drastically change ion distributions around the PEs and their mutual interactions. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we show how in addition to valency, ion shape and concentration can be harnessed as tools to control rigid like-charged PE-PE interactions. We demonstrate a correlation between the orientational ordering of aspherical ions and how they mediate the effective PE-PE attraction induced by multivalency. The interaction type, strength, and range can thus be externally controlled in ionic solutions. Our results can be used as generic guidelines to tune the self-assembly of like-charged polyelectrolytes by variation of the characteristics of the ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Vahid
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Alberto Scacchi
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Maria Sammalkorpi
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Tapio Ala-Nissila
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Quantum Technology Finland Center of Excellence, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
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Yang X, Buyukdagli S, Scacchi A, Sammalkorpi M, Ala-Nissila T. Theoretical and computational analysis of the electrophoretic polymer mobility inversion induced by charge correlations. Phys Rev E 2023; 107:034503. [PMID: 37073074 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.107.034503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Electrophoretic (EP) mobility reversal is commonly observed for strongly charged macromolecules in multivalent salt solutions. This curious effect takes place, e.g., when a charged polymer, such as DNA, adsorbs excess counterions so that the counterion-dressed surface charge reverses its sign, leading to the inversion of the polymer drift driven by an external electric field. In order to characterize this seemingly counterintuitive phenomenon that cannot be captured by electrostatic mean-field theories, we adapt here a previously developed strong-coupling-dressed Poisson-Boltzmann approach to the cylindrical geometry of the polyelectrolyte-salt system. Within the framework of this formalism, we derive an analytical polymer mobility formula dressed by charge correlations. In qualitative agreement with polymer transport experiments, this mobility formula predicts that the increment of the monovalent salt, the decrease of the multivalent counterion valency, and the increase of the dielectric permittivity of the background solvent suppress charge correlations and increase the multivalent bulk counterion concentration required for EP mobility reversal. These results are corroborated by coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations showing how multivalent counterions induce mobility inversion at dilute concentrations and suppress the inversion effect at large concentrations. This re-entrant behavior, previously observed in the aggregation of like-charged polymer solutions, calls for verification by polymer transport experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Yang
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P. O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | | | - Alberto Scacchi
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P. O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P. O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Maria Sammalkorpi
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P. O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P. O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P. O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Tapio Ala-Nissila
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P. O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Quantum Technology Finland Center of Excellence, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P. O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
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Vahid H, Scacchi A, Yang X, Ala-Nissila T, Sammalkorpi M. Modified Poisson–Boltzmann theory for polyelectrolytes in monovalent salt solutions with finite-size ions. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:214906. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0092273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a soft-potential-enhanced Poisson–Boltzmann (SPB) theory to efficiently capture ion distributions and electrostatic potential around rodlike charged macromolecules. The SPB model is calibrated with a coarse-grained particle-based model for polyelectrolytes (PEs) in monovalent salt solutions as well as compared to a full atomistic molecular dynamics simulation with the explicit solvent. We demonstrate that our modification enables the SPB theory to accurately predict monovalent ion distributions around a rodlike PE in a wide range of ion and charge distribution conditions in the weak-coupling regime. These include excess salt concentrations up to 1M and ion sizes ranging from small ions, such as Na+ or Cl−, to softer and larger ions with a size comparable to the PE diameter. The work provides a simple way to implement an enhancement that effectively captures the influence of ion size and species into the PB theory in the context of PEs in aqueous salt solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Vahid
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Alberto Scacchi
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Xiang Yang
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Quantum Technology Finland Center of Excellence, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Tapio Ala-Nissila
- Quantum Technology Finland Center of Excellence, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Sammalkorpi
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
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Lin C, Qiang X, Dong HL, Huo J, Tan ZJ. Multivalent Ion-Mediated Attraction between Like-Charged Colloidal Particles: Nonmonotonic Dependence on the Particle Charge. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:9876-9886. [PMID: 33869968 PMCID: PMC8047654 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c00613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ion-mediated effective interactions are important for the structure and stability of charged particles such as colloids and nucleic acids. It has been known that the intrinsic electrostatic repulsion between like-charged particles can be modulated into effective attraction by multivalent ions. In this work, we examined the dependence of multivalent ion-mediated attraction between like-charged colloidal particles on the particle charge in a wide range by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Our calculations show that for both divalent and trivalent salts, the effective attraction between like-charged colloidal particles becomes stronger with the increase of the particle charge, whereas it gradually becomes weakened when the particle charge exceeds a "critical" value. Correspondingly, as the particle charge is increased, the driving force for such effective attraction transits from an attractive electrostatic force to an attractive depletion force, and the attraction weakening by high particle charges is attributed to the transition of electrostatic force from attraction to repulsion. Our analyses suggest that the attractive depletion force and the repulsive electrostatic force at high particle charges result from the Coulomb depletion which suppresses the counterion condensation in the limited region between two like-charged colloidal particles. Moreover, our extensive calculations indicate that the "critical" particle charge decreases apparently for larger ions and smaller colloidal particles due to stronger Coulomb depletion and decreases slightly at higher salt concentrations due to the slightly enhanced Coulomb depletion in the intervening space between colloidal particles. Encouragingly, we derived an analytical formula for the "critical" particle charge based on the Lindemann melting law.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Lin
- Center
for Theoretical Physics and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro &
Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiaowei Qiang
- Center
for Theoretical Physics and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro &
Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hai-Long Dong
- Center
for Theoretical Physics and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro &
Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jie Huo
- Center
for Theoretical Physics and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro &
Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- School
of Physics and Electronic-Electrical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Zhi-Jie Tan
- Center
for Theoretical Physics and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro &
Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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Smiatek J. Theoretical and Computational Insight into Solvent and Specific Ion Effects for Polyelectrolytes: The Importance of Local Molecular Interactions. Molecules 2020; 25:E1661. [PMID: 32260301 PMCID: PMC7180813 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25071661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyelectrolytes in solution show a broad plethora of interesting effects. In this short review article, we focus on recent theoretical and computational findings regarding specific ion and solvent effects and their impact on the polyelectrolyte behavior. In contrast to standard mean field descriptions, the properties of polyelectrolytes are significantly influenced by crucial interactions with the solvent, co-solvent and ion species. The corresponding experimental and simulation results reveal a significant deviation from theoretical predictions, which also highlights the importance of charge transfer, dispersion and polarization interactions in combination with solvation mechanisms. We discuss recent theoretical and computational findings in addition to novel approaches which help broaden the applicability of simple mean field theories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Smiatek
- Institute for Computational Physics, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 3, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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Zandanel C, Noiray M, Vauthier C. Counterion of Chitosan Influences Thermodynamics of Association of siRNA with a Chitosan-Based siRNA Carrier. Pharm Res 2020; 37:22. [PMID: 31897766 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-019-2751-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The work aimed to compare quality of a siRNA carrier prepared with chitosan of two different sources having similar degree of deacetylation and molecular weights. Differences were analyzed from thermodynamic characteristics of interactions with siRNA. METHODS The siRNA carrier (chitosan-coated poly(isobutylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles) was prepared with home-prepared, CSLab, and commercial, CSCom, chitosans. Chitosan counterion was identified and chitosans CSCommod1 and CSCommod2 were obtained from CSCom exchanging counterion with that found on CSLab. Carrier quality was checked considering the size, zeta potential and siRNA association capacity by gel electrophoresis. Thermodynamic parameters of interactions between siRNA and chitosans in solution or immobilized at the carrier surface were determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). RESULTS CSLab and CSCommod2 having a high content of acetate counterion associated better siRNA than CSCom and CSCommod1 which counterion included mainly chloride. ITC measurements indicated that siRNA interactions with chitosan and the siRNA carrier were driven by entropic phenomena including dehydration, but thermodynamic parameters of interactions clearly differed according to the nature of the counterion of chitosan. The influence of chitosan counterions was interpreted considering their different lyotropic character. CONCLUSION Association of siRNA with our siRNA carrier was influenced by the nature of counterions associated with chitosan. Driven by entropic phenomena including dehydration, interactions were favored by acetate counterion. Although more work would be needed to decipher the influence of the counterion of chitosan during association with siRNA, it was pointed out as a new critical attribute of chitosan to consider while formulating siRNA carrier with this polysaccharide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle Zandanel
- Institut Galien Paris-Sud, CNRS UMR 8612, Univ Paris-Sud, Faculté de Pharmacie, 5 rue J.B. Clément, 92296, Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France
| | - Magali Noiray
- Institut Galien Paris-Sud, CNRS UMR 8612, Univ Paris-Sud, Faculté de Pharmacie, 5 rue J.B. Clément, 92296, Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France
| | - Christine Vauthier
- Institut Galien Paris-Sud, CNRS UMR 8612, Univ Paris-Sud, Faculté de Pharmacie, 5 rue J.B. Clément, 92296, Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France.
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Lin C, Zhang X, Qiang X, Zhang JS, Tan ZJ. Apparent repulsion between equally and oppositely charged spherical polyelectrolytes in symmetrical salt solutions. J Chem Phys 2019; 151:114902. [PMID: 31542010 DOI: 10.1063/1.5120756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ion-mediated interactions are very important for the properties of colloids and biomacromolecules such as nucleic acids and proteins. In this work, the ion-mediated interactions between equally and oppositely charged spherical polyelectrolytes (SPEs) in symmetrical divalent electrolytes have been investigated by Monte Carlo simulations, and an unexpected apparent repulsion was observed at high divalent salt concentration. Our investigations also show that the effective repulsion becomes more pronounced for SPEs with higher charge densities and for counterions with larger sizes and was found to be tightly accompanied with the over-neutralization to SPEs by condensed counterions and their release upon the approach of SPEs. Such attractive interaction can be reproduced by our proposed modified Poisson-Boltzmann model and is mainly attributed to the increase in the electrostatic repulsion between on charged SPE and the over-neutralized counterions around the other oppositely SPE with the approach of the two SPEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Lin
- Center for Theoretical Physics and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Center for Theoretical Physics and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiaowei Qiang
- Center for Theoretical Physics and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jin-Si Zhang
- College of Electrical and Photoelectronic Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu'an 237012, China
| | - Zhi-Jie Tan
- Center for Theoretical Physics and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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