Title | Polyelectrolyte Conformation Controlled by a Trivalent-Rich Ion Jacket. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2019 |
Authors | Innes-Gold, Sarah N., Philip A. Pincus, Mark J. Stevens, and Omar A. Saleh |
Journal | Phys Rev Lett |
Volume | 123 |
Issue | 18 |
Pagination | 187801 |
Date Published | 2019 Nov 01 |
ISSN | 1079-7114 |
Abstract | The configuration of charged polymers is heavily dependent on interactions with surrounding salt ions, typically manifesting as a sensitivity to the bulk ionic strength. Here, we use single-molecule mechanical measurements to show that a charged polysaccharide, hyaluronic acid, shows a surprising regime of insensitivity to ionic strength in the presence of trivalent ions. Using simulations and theory, we propose that this is caused by the formation of a "jacket" of ions, tightly associated with the polymer, whose charge (and thus effect on configuration) is robust against changes in solution composition. |
DOI | 10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.187801 |
Alternate Journal | Phys. Rev. Lett. |
PubMed ID | 31763890 |