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Demixing and polymerization in systems of anisotropic globular particles: A molecular dynamics simulation study
Author(s) -
Brugè F.,
Martorana V.,
Fornili S. L.,
PalmaVittorelli M. B.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
makromolekulare chemie. macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 0258-0322
DOI - 10.1002/masy.19910450108
Subject(s) - globular protein , chemical physics , homogeneous , globular cluster , molecular dynamics , anisotropy , morphology (biology) , monomer , instability , phase (matter) , biophysics , adhesion , materials science , nanotechnology , chemistry , crystallography , statistical physics , physics , computational chemistry , mechanics , biology , polymer , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , galaxy , composite material , genetics
We report a first set of results of Molecular Dynamics simulations of phase separation in a two‐dimensional system of identical particles bearing attachment sites at their surface. Morphology of regions of aggregation so obtained appear similar to images of biologically self‐assembled structures. Also, they evidence the relevance of the region of thermodynamic instability and of the presence and range of interaction of specific attachment sites. Particles of our system are apt to represent indifferently, though grossly, globular proteins or rigid cells, bearing specific and fixed adhesion sites at their surface. Results illustrate some basic aspects of the origin of the morphology of extended biomolecular/cellular structures, self‐organized from initially homogeneous solutions.