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Self-assembled networks Participating group members: Xinjiang Lü
Equilibrium polymers may, through intrinsic attractions or through
other molecules, undergo reversible branching or crosslinking to form
networks. The cytoskeleton, whose strong and and dynamic framework provides
structure, strength, and mobility to eukaryotic cells, is an example of
a self-assembled network. To better understand this and other examples,
we are running Monte Carlo simulations of the structures and phase
transitions of this class of material. The images show snapshots generated
from simulations in which the crosslink angle was restricted to 90
± 6
degrees (left) or to 31 ± degrees (right). Crosslink sites are shown in
blue; polymer chains are shown in red.
For more information, see here.
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Membrane vesicle formation Participating group members: David Zhao Vesicles, or closed shell-like structures, are commonly formed from lipid membranes. They are useful for encapsulating drugs and other products, for targeted or time-released delivery. We are using a simple mechanical representation of the membrane to calculate the free energy landscape of the formation of vesicles from membrane fragments. |
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Equilibrium polymers Participating group members: LaKedra Pam, Xinjiang Lü
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A
range of systems, including proteins like f-actin and wormlike
micelles, exhibit reversible 1-dimensional association into
polymers or polymer-like structures. We have performed Monte
Carlo simulations using a simplified equilibrium polymer model
in which the strength of the associations and the rigidity of
the chains can be easily varied. Using this model, we can make
predictions about the conditions required for the nematic
orientational ordering of the chains and about chain length
distributions.
