Phase Behaviour

Direct visualization of conformation and dense packing of DNA-based soft colloids

We introduce novel DNA-coated colloids with thick brushes of surface-grafted DNA (up to a thickness of 10 micron). These DNA-coated colloids allow the direct visualization of the internal brush structure and arm’s free-end locations with confocal fluorescent microscopy, as a function of grafting density, brush thickness, and ionic strength. The highly packed two-dimensional hexagonal lattice formed by these macromolecular assemblies reveal an unexpected resistance to mutual interpenetration of their charged corona at pressures approaching the MPa (see the figure). We also find that this lattice is surprisingly tolerant to particle size variation. These DNA-synthetic hybrids could aid to obtain a deeper insight in a wide range of problems in soft matter, including the study and design of biomimetic lubricated surfaces [1].

E. Stiakakis

A New Smectic Phase in Suspensions of DNA Duplexes

Stiff, double stranded DNA fragments are know not to form a smectic phase. Introducing a single stranded spacer in the middle of a double stranded DNA, thus increasing flexibility, unexpectedly leads to the formation of a smectic phase. X-ray scattering and simulations show that the stiff parts of the duplexes reside within the same smectic layer (see the figure). We named this phase the “smectic-fA phase”, where the “f” stands for “folding” [2].

E. Stiakakis

Phase Behavior of Globular Proteins: Effects of Patchiness and Additives

Solutions of globular proteins such as lysozyme and BSA have a rich equilibrium and non-equilibrium phase behaviour, triggered by competing attractive and repulsive interactions [1, 2] and the surface patchiness of the proteins. We have successfully analysed the phase behaviour and microstructure  and dynamics [3, 4, 5] of protein solutions using colloid-based theoretical models, in comparison with experimental results and computer simulations.

G. Nägele

Glass Transition in Suspensions of Very Long and Thin Colloidal Rods

Suspensions of very long and thin rods (fd-virus particles) at low ionic strength (corresponding to a Debye length of 27 nm) exhibit a (Wigner) glass transition well within the chiral-nematic state. It is shown that at the glass-transition concentration, the single-particle dynamics is arrested, as well as the dynamics of the chiral-nematic orientational texture. The dynamics of the domain texture is probed by video time-correlation spectroscopy. The single-particle dynamics continuously slows down on approach of the glass transition by increasing the fd-concentration, while the time scale on which the domain texture freezes exhibits a discontinuity, as shown in the figure [1, 2].

K. Kang

In most studies on phase diagrams of colloids, there is short range attraction and long range repulsion. What if it is the other way around? One of the very few ways to achieve long range attraction and short range repulsion is by using rods as depletants. Thus, we study the phase behavior of rod-sphere mixture for various size ratios and ionic strengths, exploiting the mono-disperse character of rod-like viruses, which exhibit a rich phase behavior such as a gas-liquid crystal coexistence (see the figure) [1] .

P. Lettinga