Abstract
Charge inversion of a DNA double helix by an oppositely charged flexible polyelectrolyte (PE) is widely used for gene delivery. It is considered here in terms of discrete charges of DNA. We concentrate on the worst scenario case when in the neutral state of the DNA-PE complex, each of the DNA charges is locally compensated by a PE charge and show that charge inversion exists even in this case. When an additional PE molecule is adsorbed by DNA, its charge gets fractionalized into monomer charges of defects (tails and arches) on the background of the perfectly neutralized DNA. These charges spread all over the DNA eliminating the self-energy of PE. Fractionalization leads to a substantial charge inversion of DNA.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Journal De Physique. IV : JP |
| Editors | S. Brazovskii, N. Kirova, P. Monceau |
| Volume | 12 |
| Edition | 9 |
| State | Published - Nov 2002 |
| Event | International Workshop on Electronic Crystals - ECRYS 2002 - Saint Flour, France Duration: Sep 2 2002 → Sep 7 2002 |
Other
| Other | International Workshop on Electronic Crystals - ECRYS 2002 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | France |
| City | Saint Flour |
| Period | 9/2/02 → 9/7/02 |