Polyelectrolyte/post collisions during electrophoresis: Influence of hydrodynamic interactions

Abstract:

We consider the interaction of an homogeneous polyelectrolyte with an obstacle during electrophoretic drift. We explicitly take into account the hydrodynamic interactions generated by this mechanical trapping, and we evaluate their influence on the unhooking process. Important qualitative effects are pointed out in low and moderate field regimes. However, numerical simulations indicate that, in strong field, the existing simpler local force models, which neglect these hydrodynamic interactions, are quantitatively acceptable.