Issue 35, 2024

How specific ion effects influence the mechanical behaviors of amide macromolecules? A cross-scale study

Abstract

The mechanisms of specific ion effects on the properties of amide macromolecules is essential to understanding the evolution of life. Because most biological macromolecules contain both complex hydrophilic and hydrophobic structures, it is challenging to accurately identify the contributions of molecular structure to macroscopic behaviors. Herein, we investigated the influence of specific ion effects on the mechanical behaviors of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and neutral polyacrylamide (i.e., PNIPAM and NPAM), through a cross-scale study that includes single-molecule force spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulation and macro mechanical method. The results indicate that the molecular conformation can be markedly influenced by the hydrophilicity (or hydrophobicity) of both macromolecule chain and ions. An extended chain conformation can be obtained when the side groups and ions are relatively hydrophilic, which can also increase the elasticity of a macromolecule chain and film materials. The relatively hydrophobic components promote the collapse of macromolecule chains and reduce the molecular elasticity. It is believed that the hydrogen bonding intensity between a macromolecule chain and aquated ions controls the chain conformation and the elasticity of molecules and films. This study is not only helpful for understanding the self-assembly mechanism of organisms but also provides a way to associate the molecular properties with the macroscopic performance of materials.

Graphical abstract: How specific ion effects influence the mechanical behaviors of amide macromolecules? A cross-scale study

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Jun 2024
Accepted
01 Aug 2024
First published
13 Aug 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2024,14, 25507-25515

How specific ion effects influence the mechanical behaviors of amide macromolecules? A cross-scale study

S. Zhang, M. Fang, J. He, L. Ma, X. Miao, P. Li, S. Yu and W. Cai, RSC Adv., 2024, 14, 25507 DOI: 10.1039/D4RA04360J

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