RT Journal Article
T1 Globulelike Conformation and Enhanced Diffusion of Active Polymers
A1 Bianco, Valentino
A1 Locatelli, Emanuele
A1 Malgaretti, Paolo
AB We study the dynamics and conformation of polymers composed by active monomers. By means of Brownian dynamics simulations we show that, when the direction of the self-propulsion of each monomer is aligned with the backbone, the polymer undergoes a coil-to-globulelike transition, highlighted by a marked change of the scaling exponent of the gyration radius. Concurrently, the diffusion coefficient of the center of mass of the polymer becomes essentially independent of the polymer size for sufficiently long polymers or large magnitudes of the self-propulsion. These effects are reduced when the self-propulsion of the monomers is not bound to be tangent to the backbone of the polymer. Our results, rationalized by a minimal stochastic model, open new routes for activity-controlled polymers and, possibly, for a new generation of polymer-based drug carriers.
PB American Physical Society
SN 1079-7114; 0031-9007
YR 2018
FD 2018-11
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/12950
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/12950
LA eng
NO Unión Europea. H2020
DS Docta Complutense
RD 23 abr 2025