DNA condensation by positively charged nanoparticles has been actively researched due to great interest in the development of artificial DNA structures in a controlled manner. We present a computational study on the condensation of a model DNA chain by binding with positively charged nanoparticles, using Brownian dynamics simulations. Especially, we investigate the DNA-nanoparticle binding at various salt concentration over the range 3×10<sup>-3</sup>~1.2 M. The electrostatic interaction is modeled by the Debye-Hückel approximation. We find that the compaction of DNA by nanoparticle binding is non-monotonic: more compact at low and high salt concentrations and more elongated at the intermediate concentrations. The mechanisms of compactions and decompaction at different concentrations will be discussed based on quantitative binding analysis. This work suggests that the conformation of DNA-nanoparticle complex can be controlled by changing salt concentrations.

Effect of salt concentration on the condensation of DNA by positively charged nanoparticles

256th National Meeting (2018)

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