Journal Article

FZJ-2016-02162

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Universal conformational properties of polymers in ionic nanogels

Kobayashi, H. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Winkler, R. G. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2016
Nature Publishing Group London

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/10145  doi:10.1038/srep19836

Abstract: Polyelectrolyte gels are known to undergo significant conformational changes in response to external stimuli such as pH, temperature, or the dielectric constant. Specifically, an increase of the degree of ionization associated with an increasing number of counterions leads to swelling of the network. For a macroscopically large gel, which is electrostatically neutral in its interior, swelling is no longer governed by electrostatic interactions, but rather by the osmotic pressure of counterions. However, this electrostatic neutrality is typically violated for nanogels, because counterions are free to leave a gel particle. Although nanogel-swelling exhibits similar features as swelling of micro- and macrogels, another mechanism has to be relevant. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations and scaling theory to unravel the structural properties of nanogels upon changing the electrostatic interactions. We demonstrate that the swelling of nanogels is governed by screened electrostatic interactions without a relevant contribution by the counterion osmotic pressure.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Theorie der Weichen Materie und Biophysik (IAS-2)
2. Theorie der Weichen Materie und Biophysik (ICS-2)

Research Program(s):

1. 551 - Functional Macromolecules and Complexes (POF3-551) (POF3-551)

Appears in the scientific report 2016

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Database coverage:
; ; ; ; BIOSIS Previews ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection ; Zoological Record

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