Separating different polymers using an interacting nanopore: A Monte Carlo study

Abstract

Translocation of a multi-polymer system containing two kinds of polymers, polymer A and polymer B, through an interacting nanopore is studied using dynamic Monte Carlo method. Polymer A and polymer B have different polymer–pore interactions. The probability of one kind of polymer first translocating through a nanopore is dependent on the polymer–pore interactions and the magnitude of driving force for monomers inside the nanopore. At weak driving, there are separation regions where one kind of polymer translocates through the pore always before another kind of polymer. A phase diagram containing separation regions and mixed region is presented. At last, the first-in first-out rule for the polymer translocation is investigated.