Polyelectrolyte/post collisions during electrophoresis: Influence of hydrodynamic interactions

P. André; D. Long; A. Ajdari

doi:10.1007/s100510050384

EPJ

Polyelectrolyte/post collisions during electrophoresis: Influence of hydrodynamic interactions

P. André^a, D. Long and A. Ajdari

Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie Théorique, ESA CNRS 7083, ESPCI, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France

Received: 18 March 1998
Accepted: 20 May 1998
Published online: 15 August 1998

Abstract

We consider the interaction of an homogeneous polyelectrolyte with an obstacle during electrophoretic drift. We explicitly take into account the hydrodynamic interactions generated by this mechanical trapping, and we evaluate their influence on the unhooking process. Important qualitative effects are pointed out in low and moderate field regimes. However, numerical simulations indicate that, in strong field, the existing simpler local force models, which neglect these hydrodynamic interactions, are quantitatively acceptable.

PACS: 87.15.He – Molecular dynamics and conformational changes / 82.45.+z – Electrochemistry and electrophoresis / 36.20.-r – Macromolecules and polymer molecules