
DYNAMIC FORCE SPECTROSCOPY
POLYMER APPROACH
Dynamic force spectroscopy can probe the free energy landscape of interacting bonds, but interpretations polymer-mineral interactions are challenged by the complex mechanical behavior of polymers. We recently restated the difficulties inherent to applying DFS to polymer-linked adhesion and present an approach to gain quantitative insight into
polymer-mineral binding.
Our formulation of a DFSpolymer approach applies to both the equilibrium and nonequilibrium regimes and it should be adapted to describe the bond behavior and binding mechanisms of elastic (bio)polymers.
Our approach add to the applicability of the DFS method to complex biopolymers and has a range of implications including bioinspired approaches to materials design and synthesis utilized such interactions to advance medical and technological applications, such as nanoparticles for ingestion, bone implants, and responsive materials.