Regensburg 2013 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 23: Polymer Dynamics
CPP 23.9: Talk
Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 12:00–12:15, H39
Translocation of macromolecules with different architectures through polymer brush covered microchannels — •Irina Neratova1, Torsten Kreer1, and Jens-Uwe Sommer1,2 — 1Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany — 2Technische Universität Dresden, Institut für Theoretische Physik, Zellescher Weg 17, D-01069, Dresden, Germany
Polymer brush covered channels have attracted a lot of attention in recent years for both engineering and biomedical applications. They play an important role in the design of novel microfluidic devices, the control of targeted drug delivery, stabilization of colloids, and lubrication. Although the equilibrium properties of polymer brushes are well understood, many non-equilibrium phenomena have not been studied to date. One example is the translocation of macromolecules through a brush covered microchannel.
In this study, Molecular Dynamics simulations are employed to investigate the influence of the architecture of macromolecules on their ability to pass through a brush covered channel. The properties of linear and star polymers embedded in the microchannel are studied in thermodynamic equilibrium and within Poisseuille flows of various strengths. It is shown that, in equilibrium, a linear macromolecule diffuses faster than a polymer star of the same molecular weight. On the other hand, a pressure gradient may be regarded as a driving force for faster motion of the star polymer.