Hopping and crawling DNA-coated colloids
Abstract
Understanding how "sticky" particles move and interact with their environment has broad implications, from biomedical targeting and screening to designing innovative materials. These micrometric particles possess "molecular stickers" constantly binding and unbinding to other surfaces. At the macroscopic scale, they appear to hop, roll, or crawl, yet experimental microscopic understanding remains elusive. Using DNA-coated particles as an experimental model, our research reveals a fascinating duality: These particles alternate between hopping and crawling on surfaces, with temperature playing a crucial role. They prefer hopping with long steps at higher temperatures, while they crawl with short steps at lower temperatures. We build a model attributing this behavior to an increased sticker strength at lower temperatures, preventing bond detachment and hopping.
- Publication:
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- October 2024
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.2318865121
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2310.18785
- Bibcode:
- 2024PNAS..12118865Z
- Keywords:
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- Condensed Matter - Soft Condensed Matter