https://doi.org/10.15255/KUI.2012.41
Published: Kem. Ind. 63 (3-4) (2014) 93−98
Paper reference number: KUI-41/2012
Paper type: Review
Download paper:  PDF

Interactions Between Charged Macroions Mediated by Molecules with Rod-Like Charged Structures

K. Bohinc

Abstract

A short review of recent theoretical advances in studies of the interaction between highly charged systems embedded in a solution of rod-like molecules is presented. The system is theoretically described by the functional density theory, where the correlations within the rod-like molecules are accounted for. We show that for sufficiently long molecules and large surface charge densities, an attractive force between like-charged surfaces arises due to the spatially distributed charges within the molecules. The added salt has an influence on the condition for the attractive force between like-charged surfaces. The theoretical results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations. Many phenomena motivate the study of the interaction between like-charged surfaces (DNA condensation, virus aggregation, yeast flocculation, cohesion of cement paste).

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Keywords

electrical double layer, biomaterials and biological interfaces