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Using extensive molecular dynamics simulations, we obtain the conformationalphase diagram of a charged polymer in the presence of oppositely chargedcounterions and neutral attractive crowders for monovalent, divalent andtrivalent counterion valencies. We demonstrate that the charged polymer canexist in three phases: (1) an extended phase for low charge densities and weakpolymer-crowder attractive interactions ($CE$), (2) a collapsed phase for highcharge densities and weak polymer-crowder attractive interactions, primarilydriven by counterion condensation ($CCI$), and (3) a collapsed phase for strongpolymer-crowder attractive interactions, irrespective of the charge density,driven by crowders acting as bridges or crosslinks ($CCB$). Importantly, thesimulations reveal that the interaction with crowders can induce collapse,despite the presence of strong repulsive electrostatic interactions, and canreplace condensed counterions to facilitate a direct transition from the $CCI$and $CE$ phases to the $CCB$ phase.

The conformational phase diagram of charged polymers in the presence of attractive bridging crowders