Brownian ratchet for directional nanoparticle transport by repetitive stretch-relaxation of DNA

Phys Rev E. 2022 Nov;106(5-1):054117. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.106.054117.

Abstract

Brownian motion subject to a periodic and asymmetric potential can be biased by external, nonequilibrium fluctuations, leading to directional movement of Brownian particles. Sequence-dependent flexibility variation along double-stranded DNA has been proposed as a tool to develop periodic and asymmetric potentials for DNA binding of cationic nanoparticles with sizes below tens of nanometers. Here, we propose that repetitive stretching and relaxation of a long, double-stranded DNA molecule with periodic flexibility gradient can induce nonequilibrium fluctuations that tune the amplitude of asymmetric potentials for DNA-nanoparticle binding to result in directional transport of nanometer-sized particles along DNA. Realization of the proposed Brownian ratchet was proven by Brownian dynamics simulations of coarse-grained models of a single, long DNA molecule with flexibility variation and a cationic nanoparticle.

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Motion
  • Nanoparticles* / chemistry

Substances

  • DNA