Effective non-additive pair potential for lock-and-key interacting particles: the role of the limited valence

Abstract

Theoretical studies of self-assembly processes and condensed phases in colloidal systems are often based on effective inter-particle potentials. Here we show that developing an effective potential for particles interacting with a limited number of ``lock-and-key'' selective bonds (due to the specificity of bio-molecular interactions) requires -- beside the non-sphericity of the potential -- a (many body) constraint that prevent multiple bonding on the same site. We show the importance of retaining both valence and bond-selectivity by developing, as a case study, a simple effective potential describing the interaction between colloidal particles coated by four single-strand DNA chains.

4 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (7)

• Phase diagram of patchy colloids: towards empty liquids
• Can Polymer Coils be modeled as "Soft Colloids"?
• Model for reversible colloidal gelation
• Simulation studies of fluid critical behaviour
• Model for Assembly and Gelation of Four-Armed DNA Dendrimers
• Star-Like Micelles with Star-Like Interactions: A quantitative Evaluation of Structure Factor and Phase Diagram
• Multi-scale coarse-graining of diblock copolymer self-assembly: from monomers to ordered micelles

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Hierarchies of networked phases induced by multiple liquid-liquid critical points
• Polyelectrolyte-Compression Forces between Spherical DNA Brushes
• Insights into DNA-mediated interparticle interactions from a coarse-grained model
• A spherical model with directional interactions: I. Static properties
• Adsorbed films of three-patch colloids: Continuous and discontinuous transitions between thick and thin films
• Interpenetration as a Mechanism for Liquid-Liquid Phase Transitions