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Simulation study for the pulling translocation of a polymer globule

Polymer Journal volume 53, pages 1047–1056 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

The pulling translocation of a polymer globule through a nanopore is simulated by using the Langevin dynamics method. The head of the polymer is pulled with a constant pulling force or with a constant pulling speed. The scaling relations between the polymer translocation time τ and polymer length N and between τ and the pulling force F/speed v are investigated. For translocation induced by a constant pulling force, we obtain τ ~F−β with β = 0.88 at large pulling forces and τ ~Nα for long polymer chains. However, the exponent α is dependent on the intrapolymer interaction strength. For the translocation induced by a constant pulling speed, we obtain τ ~v−0.92 at large pulling speeds and α = 1.24 for long polymer chains. The results show that the conformational changes of the polymer chain during translocation and the entropic and enthalpic forces due to the straight conformation at the trans side play important roles in the pulling translocation of polymer globules.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant No. 11974305.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

    Xian Chen, Jia Chen, Bo-Yang Zhuo & Meng-Bo Luo

  2. Department of Physics, Taizhou University, Taizhou, China

    Xiao Yang

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Chen, X., Chen, J., Zhuo, BY. et al. Simulation study for the pulling translocation of a polymer globule. Polym J 53, 1047–1056 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-021-00502-1

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