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Electrophoretic mobility of composite objects in free solution: Application to DNA separation
Author(s) -
Long Didier,
Ajdari Armand
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
electrophoresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.666
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1522-2683
pISSN - 0173-0835
DOI - 10.1002/elps.1150170628
Subject(s) - electrophoresis , polyelectrolyte , electric field , composite number , buoy , polymer , materials science , chemistry , separation (statistics) , chromatography , chemical physics , physics , computer science , composite material , engineering , quantum mechanics , machine learning , marine engineering
We propose here a simple procedure to estimate the electrophoretic mobility of composite objects obtained by linking two charged subunits, stressing that this electrophoretic mobility is in general different from the ratio of the total charge to the total friction coefficient. We focus especially on the situation where at least one of the subunits is a polyelectrolyte. Our remarks in particular correct the existing theoretical analysis of separation capabilities of devices in which a buoy (sphere, protein, polymer) is attached to a DNA chain. We also predict that, in some cases, the direction of electrophoretic motion can be reversed by increasing the electric field amplitude.