Wednesday, December 5, 2012

1212.0731 (Leili Javidpour et al.)

Multivalent ion effects on electrostatic stability of virus-like
nano-shells
   [PDF]

Leili Javidpour, Anže Lošdorfer Božič, Ali Naji, Rudolf Podgornik
Electrostatic properties and stability of virus-like nano-shells are examined in mixed ionic solutions with monovalent and multivalent ions. A theoretical model based on a thin charged sphere and multivalent ions within the "dressed multivalent ion" approximation is compared with extensive implicit Monte-Carlo simulations and shown to be accurate for positive or low negative surface charge density of the shell, and for sufficiently high (low) monovalent (multivalent) salt concentrations. Deviations between simulation and theory occur due to many-body effects leading to formation of a strongly correlated layer of vicinal ions. Phase diagrams of electrostatic (osmotic) pressure show positive and negative pressure values, corresponding to outward and inward facing forces on the shell, providing an explanation for high sensitivity of viral shell stability on the ionic environment.
View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1212.0731

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