Phenol release from pNIPAM hydrogels: scaling molecular dynamics simulations with dynamical density functional theory.

We employed molecular dynamic simulations (MD) and the Bennett's acceptance ratio method to compute the free energy of transfer, ΔGtrans, of phenol, methane, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), between bulk water and water-pNIPAM mixtures of different polymer volume fractions, ϕp. For this purpose, we first calculate the solvation free energies in both media to obtain ΔGtrans. Phenol and 5-FU (a medication used to treat cancer) attach to the pNIPAM surface so that they show negative values of ΔGtrans irrespective of temperature (above or below the lower critical solution temperature of pNIPAM, Tc). Conversely, methane switches the ΔGtrans sign when considering temperatures below (positive) and above (negative) Tc. In all cases, and contrasting with some theoretical predictions, ΔGtrans maintains a linear behavior with the pNIPAM concentration up to large polymer densities. We have also employed MD to compute the diffusion coefficient, D, of phenol in water-pNIPAM mixtures as a function of ϕp in the diluted limit. Both ΔGtrans and D as a function of ϕp are required inputs to obtain the release halftime of hollow pNIPAM microgels through Dynamic Density Functional Theory (DDFT). Our scaling strategy captures the experimental value of 2200 s for 50 µm radius microgels with no cavity, for ϕp ≃ 0.83 at 315 K.

A coil-to-globule transition capable coarse-grained model for poly(N-isopropylacrylamide).

We present a model for mesoscopic molecular dynamics simulations of poly(N-isopropyl-acrylamide) (pNIPAM). The model uses a coarse-grained scheme based on the explicit-solvent Martini force field. The mapping of the polymer accounts for three beads per monomer. Similarly to the Martini water bead, the amide moieties of the polymer include an electric dipole. The model is tested by building polymer chains of different sizes and proved to accurately capture the thermal response of pNIPAM without including any temperature-dependent parameters. The critical temperature of the model is observed at (302.1 ± 1.1) K for a 35-mer and it keeps invariant when increasing the chain length. We deployed a series of replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations that evidence the oligomer reaches thermodynamic equilibrium irrespective of the starting configuration. Finally, the model is applied to a membrane structure of pNIPAM where a good agreement with previous atomistic simulations is observed.

P-NIPAM in water-acetone mixtures: experiments and simulations.

The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (p-NIPAM) diminishes when a small volume of acetone is added to the aqueous polymer solution, and then increases for further additions, producing a minimum at a certain acetone concentration. Here this behavior is observed through the variation of the hydrodynamic radius RH of p-NIPAM microgels with temperature, measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS), when adding increasing amounts of acetone in the molar fraction range of 0.00 to 0.25. This size trend of microgels with temperature is well captured by all-atom molecular dynamic simulations, which are implemented for a single 30-mer, at similar solvent and temperature conditions. Both DLS measurements and simulations indicate that the shrunken state continuously augments its size with increasing acetone content. This, in turn, leads to a minimum of the globule-to-coil transition temperature, which should correspond to the minimum of the LCST. Furthermore, density profiles, as obtained by considering a membrane arrangement of oligomers, reveal a preferential interaction of the polymer with acetone to the detriment of water. We observe how the membrane loses water content as the temperature is increased while keeping a similar amount of acetone in its interior. This competition between water and acetone for the polymer surface plays a major role in the enthalpy driven dependence of the critical temperature with acetone concentration.

Corresponding states law for a generalized Lennard-Jones potential.

It was recently shown that vapor-liquid coexistence densities derived from Mie and Yukawa models collapse to define a single master curve when represented against the difference between the reduced second virial coefficient at the corresponding temperature and that at the critical point. In this work, we further test this proposal for another generalization of the Lennard-Jones pair potential. This is carried out for vapor-liquid coexistence densities, surface tension, and vapor pressure, along a temperature window set below the critical point. For this purpose, we perform molecular dynamics simulations by varying the potential softness parameter to produce from very short to intermediate attractive ranges. We observed all properties to collapse and yield master curves. Moreover, the vapor-liquid curve is found to share the exact shape of the Mie and attractive Yukawa. Furthermore, the surface tension and the logarithm of the vapor pressure are linear functions of this difference of reduced second virial coefficients.

Coexistence and interfacial properties of a triangle-well mimicking the Lennard-Jones fluid and a comparison with noble gases.

Coexistence and interfacial properties of a triangle-well (TW) fluid are obtained with the aim of mimicking the Lennard-Jones (LJ) potential and approach the properties of noble gases. For this purpose, the scope of the TW is varied to match vapor-liquid densities and surface tension. Surface tension and coexistence curves of TW systems with different ranges were calculated with replica exchange Monte Carlo and compared to those data previously reported in the literature for truncated and shifted (STS), truncated (ST), and full Lennard-Jones (full-LJ) potentials. We observed that the scope of the TW potential must be increased to approach the STS, ST, and full-LJ properties. In spite of the simplicity of TW expression, a remarkable agreement is found. Furthermore, the variable scope of the TW allows for a good match of the experimental data of argon and xenon.

Síndrome de Ballantyne (síndrome del espejo - mirror syndrome) / Ballantyne syndrome

Presentamos el caso de una gestante de 29 semanas que acude a urgencias por edemas en extremidades inferiores, un incremento ponderal en la última semana de 7 kg, oliguria y disnea. El feto presentaba un cuadro de ascitis y edema subcutáneo. Se realizó el diagnóstico de hidrops fetal no inmune, en el contexto de un síndrome de Ballantyne de causa desconocida. Inició trabajo de parto a los 7 días del ingreso y el puerperio cursó sin incidencias siendo dada de alta a las 48 horas post parto. El neonato precisó soporte respiratorio con ventilación no invasiva durante dos semanas y actualmente sigue controles periódicos en neonatología, con muy buena evolución.

We report a case of a 29 weeks pregnant who came to the emergency department because she presented oedema in lower extremity, weight increased in the last week of 7 kg, oliguria and dyspnoea. The fetus showed ascites and subcutaneous oedema. It was diagnosed a non-immune hydrops, in the context of Ballantyne syndrome of unknown cause. Childbirth was 7 days after admission and puerperium envolved normally, the patient was discharged at 48 hours postpartum. The neonate required respiratory support with non-invasive ventilation for two weeks and nowadays the baby is currently regular checks in neonatology, with a positive evolution.

Hard ellipsoids: analytically approaching the exact overlap distance.

Following previous work [G. Odriozola and F. de J. Guevara-Rodríguez, J. Chem. Phys. 134, 201103 (2011)], the replica exchange Monte Carlo technique is used to produce the equation of state of hard 1:5 aspect-ratio oblate ellipsoids for a wide density range. Here, in addition to the analytical approximation of the overlap distance given by Berne and Pechukas (BP) and the exact numerical solution of Perram and Wertheim, we tested a simple modification of the original BP approximation (MBP) which corrects the known T-shape mismatch of BP for all aspect ratios. We found that the MBP equation of state shows a very good quantitative agreement with the exact solution. The MBP analytical expression allowed us to study size effects on the previously reported results. For the thermodynamic limit, we estimated the exact 1:5 hard ellipsoid isotropic-nematic transition at the volume fraction 0.343 ± 0.003, and the nematic-solid transition in the volume fraction interval (0.592 ± 0.006)-(0.634 ± 0.008).

Communication: equation of state of hard oblate ellipsoids by replica exchange Monte Carlo.

We implemented the replica exchange Monte Carlo technique to produce the equation of state of hard 1:5 aspect-ratio oblate ellipsoids for a wide density range. For this purpose, we considered the analytical approximation of the overlap distance given by Bern and Pechukas and the exact numerical solution given by Perram and Wertheim. For both cases we capture the expected isotropic-nematic transition at low densities and a nematic-crystal transition at larger densities. For the exact case, these transitions occur at the volume fraction 0.341, and in the interval 0.584-0.605, respectively.

Vapor-liquid surface tension of strong short-range Yukawa fluid.

The thermodynamic properties of strong short-range attractive Yukawa fluids, κ = 10, 9, 8, and 7, are determined by combining the slab technique with the standard and the replica exchange Monte Carlo (REMC) methods. A good agreement was found among the coexistence curves of these systems calculated by REMC and those previously reported in the literature. However, REMC allows exploring the coexistence at lower temperatures, where dynamics turns glassy. To obtain the surface tension we employed, for both methods, a procedure that yields the pressure tensor components for discontinuous potentials. The surface tension results obtained by the standard MC and REMC techniques are in good agreement.

Entropy driven key-lock assembly.

The effective interaction between a sphere with an open cavity (lock) and a spherical macroparticle (key), both immersed in a hard sphere fluid, is studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations. As a result, a two-dimensional map of the key-lock effective interaction potential is constructed, which leads to the proposal of a self-assembling mechanism: There exists trajectories through which the key-lock pair could assemble avoiding trespassing potential barriers. Hence, solely the entropic contribution can induce their self-assembling even in the absence of attractive forces. This study points out the solvent contribution within the underlying mechanisms of substrate-protein assemblydisassembly processes, which are important steps of the enzyme catalysis and protein mediated transport.

Aggregation kinetics of latex microspheres in alcohol-water media.

We report zeta potential and aggregation kinetics data on colloidal latex particles immersed in water-alcohol media. Zeta potential values show absolute maxima for volume fractions of alcohol of 0.10 and 0.05 for ethanol and 1-propanol, respectively. For methanol, no maximum of the absolute value of the zeta potential was found. Aggregation kinetics was studied by means of a single-cluster optical sizing equipment and for alcohol volume fractions ranging from 0 to 0.1. The aggregation processes are induced by adding different potassium bromide concentrations to the samples. We expected to find a slowdown of the overall aggregation kinetics for ethanol and 1-propanol, and no significant effect for methanol, as compared with pure water data. That is, we expected the zeta potential to govern the overall aggregation rate. However, we obtained a general enhancement of the aggregation kinetics for methanol and 1-propanol and a general slowdown of the aggregation rate for ethanol. In addition, aggregation data under ethanol show a slower kinetics for large electrolyte concentration than that obtained for intermediate electrolyte concentration. We think that these anomalous behaviors are linked to layering, changes in hydrophobicity of particle surfaces due to alcohol adsorption, complex ion-water-alcohol-surface structuring, and competition between alcohol-surface adsorption and alcohol-alcohol clustering.

Effect of confinement on the interaction between two like-charged rods.

Monte Carlo simulations were employed to study two charged rods confined between two unlike charged plates, all immersed in a model electrolyte. Recently, it was shown that two rods immersed in a multivalent counterion solution may show attraction [Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 2477 (1997)10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.2477]. Here we show for a monovalent electrolyte that rod-rod attraction and repulsion can switch sign depending on confinement and ionic size. We also propose a simple self-assembling mechanism which may be helpful to understand the DNA-lipid bilayers complexation.

Stability of Ca-montmorillonite hydrates: a computer simulation study.

Classic simulations are used to study interlayer structure, swelling curves, and stability of Ca-montmorillonite hydrates. For this purpose, NP(zz)T and muP(zz)T ensembles are sampled for ground level and given burial conditions. For ground level conditions, a double layer hydrate having 15.0 A of basal spacing is the predominant state for relative vapor pressures (p/p0) ranging 0.6-1.0. A triple hydrate counting on 17.9 A of interlaminar distance was also found stable for p/p0 = 1.0. For low vapor pressures, the system may produce a less hydrated but still double layer state with 13.5 A or even a single layer hydrate with 12.2 A of interlaminar distance. This depends on the established initial conditions. On the other hand, the effect of burial conditions is two sided. It was found that it enhances dehydration for all vapor pressures except for saturation, where swelling is promoted.

Stability of K-Montmorillonite Hydrates: Hybrid MC Simulations.

NPzzT and µPzzT simulations of K-montmorillonite hydrates were performed employing hybrid Monte Carlo simulations. Two condition sets were studied: P = 1 atm and T = 300 K (ground level conditions) and P = 600 atm and T = 394 K; this last condition mimics a burial depth close to 4 km. For these conditions, swelling curves as a function of the reservoir water vapor pressure were built. We found the single layer K-montmorillonite hydrate stable for high vapor pressures for both burial and ground level conditions. A simple explanation for this high stability is given.

Irreversible versus reversible aggregation: mean field theory and experiments.

Colloidal aggregation processes arising at different electrolyte concentrations were studied by means of experiments and confronted with theoretical predictions of different kinetic aggregation models. For this purpose, aqueous dispersions of relatively large polystyrene microspheres were chosen as experimental systems. Aggregation was induced by adding KBr electrolyte to the initially stable particle dispersions. During the aggregation processes, the cluster-size distribution was monitored by means of single cluster light scattering. Analyzing the time evolution of the monomer concentration, we found that the processes arising even at moderate electrolyte concentrations cannot be described by pure time-independent irreversible aggregation models. Hence, alternative models such as time-dependent irreversible aggregation and several reversible aggregation models were also tested. The model that considers a time-dependent sticking probability was found to fit the data quite satisfactorily. Nevertheless, the fitted was so slow that it seems not very likely to find such a behavior in real systems. The aggregation-fragmentation models reported in the literature were unable to reproduce the experimental observations. Hence, a more realistic reversible aggregation model was developed. This model accounts also for reenforced or double bonds between the constituent particles. The corresponding fit improved significantly and reached the same quality as the time-dependent model. Moreover, the obtained fitting parameters were in qualitative agreement with the DLVO predictions and so, reversible aggregation seems to be a more reasonable explanation for the experimental data than time-dependent irreversible aggregation. However, no definite statement on the possible secondary bond fragmentation mechanism may be made since both the applied shear stress in the measuring cell and thermal fluctuations can cause weaker bonds to break.

Brownian dynamics simulations of Laponite colloid suspensions.

Colloidal suspensions of Laponite clay platelets are studied by means of Brownian dynamics simulations. The platelets carry discrete charged sites which interact via a Yukawa potential. As in the paper by S. Kutter et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 112, 311 (2000)], two models are considered. In the first one all surface sites are identically negative charged, whereas in the second one, rim charges of opposite sign are included. These models mimic the behavior of the Laponite particles in different media. They are employed in a series of simulations for different Laponite concentrations and for two values of the Debye length. For the equilibrium states, the system structure is studied by center-to-center and orientational pair distribution functions. Long-time translational and rotational self-diffusion coefficients are computed by two different methods, which yield very similar results.

Na-montmorillonite hydrates under ethane rich reservoirs: NPzzT and muPzzT simulations.

Na-montmorillonite hydrates in presence of ethane molecules are studied by means of hybrid Monte Carlo simulations in the NP(zz)T and muP(zz)T ensembles. The NP(zz)T ensemble allows us to study the interlaminar distance as a function of water and ethane content. These data show clear plateaus for lower ethane contents and mainly for water contents consistent with the formation of a single water layer. In addition, from this ensemble the structure for some of these interlaminar compositions were analyzed. For systems containing few ethane molecules and water enough to complete a single layer, it was observed that ethane mainly situates close to the interlayer midplane and adopts a nearly parallel arrangement to the clay surface. On the other hand, the muP(zz)T ensemble allows us to determine the interlaminar distance and water-ethane content for any specific reservoir. Here, some important findings are the following: the partial exchange of water by ethane molecules that enhances for decreasing the water vapor pressure; the obtention of a practically constant interlaminar space distance as a function of the water vapor pressure; the conservation of ion solvation shells; the enhancement of the water-ethane exchange for burial conditions; and finally, the incapability for a dehydrated clay mineral to swell in a dry and rich ethane atmosphere.

Colloidal aggregation with sedimentation: concentration effects.

The results of computer models for colloidal aggregation, that consider both Brownian motion and gravitational drift experienced by the colloidal particles and clusters, are extended to include concentrations spanning three orders of magnitude. In previous publications and for a high colloidal concentration, it was obtained that the aggregation crosses over from diffusion-limited colloidal aggregation (DLCA) to another regime with a higher cluster fractal dimension and a speeding up followed by a slowing down of the aggregation rate. In the present work we show, as the concentration is decreased, that we can still cross over to a similar regime during the course of the aggregation, as long as the height of the sample is increased accordingly. Among the differences between the mentioned new regimes for a high and a low colloidal concentration, the cluster fractal dimension is higher for the high concentration case and lowers its value as the concentration is decreased, presumably reaching for low enough concentrations a fixed value above the DLCA value. It is also obtained the fractal dimension of the sediments, arising from the settling clusters that reach the bottom and continue a 2D-like diffusive motion and aggregation, on the floor of the container. For these clusters we now see two and sometimes three regimes, depending on concentration and sedimentation strength, with their corresponding fractal dimensions. The first two coming from the crossover already mentioned, that took place in the bulk of the sample before the cluster deposition, while the third arises from the two-dimensional aggregation on the floor of the container. For these bottom clusters we also obtain their dynamical behavior and aggregation rate.

Modeling the aggregation of partially covered particles: theory and simulation.

A theoretical model for describing the initial stages of the aggregation of partially covered colloidal particles is presented. It is based on the assumption of short-range interactions that may be modeled by a sticking probability on contact. Three types of sticking probabilities are distinguished depending on the collision type, i.e., for bare-bare, bare-covered, and covered-covered collisions. Hence, the model allows an analytical expression for the dimer-formation rate constant k(11), to be deduced as a function of the degree of surface coverage and the three sticking probabilities. The theoretical predictions are contrasted with simulated data. The observed agreement between theory and simulations shows the usefulness of the model for predicting the initial stages of this kind of aggregation processes.

Coupled aggregation and sedimentation processes: the sticking probability effect.

The influence of the sticking probability P and the drift velocity on kinetics and structure formation arising in coupled aggregation and sedimentation processes was studied by means of simulations. For this purpose, a large prism with no periodical conditions for the sedimentation direction was considered allowing for sediment formation at the prism base. The time evolution of the cluster size distribution (CSD) and weight-average cluster size (n(w)) were determined in three different regions of the prism. The cluster morphology and the sediment structure were also analyzed. We found that the coupled aggregation and sedimentation processes in the bulk are governed by P for short times, and controlled by the Péclet number Pe for long times. In the lower part of the reaction volume, where the sediment grows, the local n(w) grows at sufficiently large times analytically with an exponent of four. This behavior seems to be independent of Pe and P. The obtained results are in good agreement with the experimental data reported by C. Allain, M. Cloitre, and M. Wafra [Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 1478 (1995)] and support the idea of a possible internal cluster rearrangement for the experiments. Finally, we discuss how the scale dependent fractal character of the sediment is related to the different stages of the aggregation process.