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Hook Formation of Electrically Driven DNA Collisions with Finite-Sized Obstacles
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Abstract
We present a comprehensive study of the hooking mechanism of a single DNA molecule in electrophoretic motion colliding with a single microfabricated obstacle. During a collision, DNA impacts an obstacle and deforms. The impact conditions dictate whether this collision results in a “roll-off” event or “hooking” event. Our objective is to better understand the physics of a collision. Specifically, we note that a finite-sized insulating obstacle induces local electric field gradients that can enhance the size-dependent hooking probability. We validate that the hooking mechanism is analogous to a polymer in a transient, non-homogeneous elongational field with a strength characterized by the Deborah number, De. We then show that hook formation increases with De for finite-sized obstacles in the regime De<40.
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- Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004
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