This paper is aimed to develop a Brownian dynamics simulation method for strongly confined semiflexible polymers where numerical simulation plays an indispensable role in complementing theory and experiments. A wormlike chain under strong confinement is modeled as a string of virtual spherical beads connected by inextensible rods with length varying according to the confinement intensity of the chain measured by the Odijk deflection length. The model takes hydrodynamic interactions into account. The geometrical constraints associated with the inextensible rods are realized by the so-called linear constraint solver. The model parameters are studied by quantitatively comparing the simulated properties of a double-stranded DNA chain with available experimental data and theoretical predictions.

A mechanics model describing how a cell membrane with diffusive mobile receptors wraps around a ligand-coated cylindrical or spherical particle has been recently developed to model the role of particle size in receptor-mediated endocytosis. The results show that particles in the size range of tens to hundreds of nanometers can enter cells even in the absence of clathrin or caveolin coats. Here we report further progress on modeling the effects of size and shape in diffusion, interaction, and absorption of finite-sized colloidal particles near a partially absorbing sphere. Our analysis indicates that, from the diffusion and interaction point of view, there exists an optimal hydrodynamic size of particles, typically in the nanometer regime, for the maximum rate of particle absorption. Such optimal size arises as a result of balance between the diffusion constant of the particles and the interaction energy between the particles and the absorbing sphere relative to the thermal energy. Particles with a smaller hydrodynamic radius have larger diffusion constant but weaker interaction with the sphere while larger particles have smaller diffusion constant but stronger interaction with the sphere. Since the hydrodynamic radius is also determined by the particle shape, an optimal hydrodynamic radius implies an optimal size as well as an optimal aspect ratio for a nonspherical particle. These results show broad agreement with experimental observations and may have general implications on interaction between nanoparticles and animal cells.

Nanocomposites from PLA/PU containing small concentrations of graphene oxide (GO) were prepared by simple liquid‐phase mixing followed by casting. The as‐prepared ternary PLA/PU/GO composite films exhibited good antibacterial activity against the gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus and the gram‐negative Escherichia coli, due to the excellent antibacterial property of GO sheets with high specific surface area. The addition of GO inhibited the attachment and proliferation of microbes on the film surfaces, resulting in that the PLA/PU/GO composite films show remarkably improved antibacterial activity compared with PLA/PU composite film. The inhibition efficiency is proportional to the amount of GO. Furthermore, PLA/PU/GO composite fibrous paper was fabricated using electrospinning and exhibited good biocompatibility. The addition of GO does not destroy normal cell’s proliferation and differentiation. PLA/PU/GO composites with good antibacterial activity and biocompatibility make it attractive for the environmental and clinical applications and also provide a candidate for future application of tissue engineering.