缩扩微通道内高分子链迁移过程的模拟研究
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF POLYMER CHAIN MIGRATION IN CONTRACTION–EXPANSION MICROCHANNELS
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摘要: 微流控技术的快速发展为生物医学及相关领域的应用提供了重要支撑, 高分子链在微通道中的迁移与构象演化对于提升样本检测的稳定性与精度至关重要. 针对高分子链在微尺度受限空间中的复杂动力学行为, 本研究基于介观尺度耗散粒子动力学方法, 在不同缩扩微通道中构建改进的FENE高分子链模型, 系统研究高分子链刚度系数、缩扩比及雷诺数对单链回转半径和质心迁移行为的影响, 揭示了高分子链在通过收缩区过程中表现出明显的入口拉伸和出口回缩双阶段特征, 并建立了高分子链刚度系数增强与构象伸展之间的定量关联. 结果表明, 高分子链在微通道扩张区主要呈卷曲构象, 在收缩区以伸展构象为主. 减小缩扩比可进一步增强空间限域作用, 提高高分子链的最大伸长程度, 而增大缩扩比可减弱构象重排阻滞, 提高高分子链通过通道的输运效率. 与此同时, 高分子链质心整体呈中心富集分布, 但随着雷诺数和链刚度系数增大, 质心逐渐偏离通道中心并表现出近壁迁移趋势. 研究发现可为微流控器件中生物大分子高效检测及结构优化设计提供理论依据.Abstract: The rapid advancement of microfluidic technology has provided essential support for biomedical and related applications, in which the migration and conformational evolution of polymer chains within microchannels are critical for improving the stability and accuracy of sample detection. To address the complex dynamic behavior of polymer chains in microscale confined spaces, the present study employs the mesoscale dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) method to investigate single-chain transport in contraction–expansion microchannels. An improved finite extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE) polymer chain model was constructed, and the effects of chain stiffness coefficient, contraction–expansion ratio, and Reynolds number on the radius of gyration and the center-of-mass migration behavior of a single polymer chain were systematically examined. The results reveal that the polymer chain exhibits a distinct two-stage conformational evolution as it traverses the contraction region, characterized by pronounced inlet stretching followed by outlet recoiling. On this basis, a quantitative correlation between the enhancement of chain stiffness and conformational extension was established. The polymer chain predominantly adopts a coiled conformation in the expansion region of the microchannel, whereas an elongated conformation prevails in the contraction region. A decrease in the contraction–expansion ratio further intensifies the spatial confinement effect and increases the maximum elongation of the polymer chain. By contrast, an increase in the contraction–expansion ratio alleviates the resistance to conformational rearrangement, thereby improving the transport efficiency of the polymer chain through the channel. Meanwhile, the center of mass of the polymer chain exhibits an overall center-enriched distribution; however, as the Reynolds number and stiffness coefficient increase, it progressively deviates from the channel centerline and displays a pronounced tendency toward near-wall migration. These findings deepen the understanding of polymer chain transport and conformational evolution under microfluidic confinement, and provide a theoretical foundation for the efficient detection of biomacromolecules and the structural optimization of microfluidic devices.
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