Simulating flow of DNA suspension using dissipative particle dynamics

Abstract

We simulate DNA suspension microchannel flows using the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) method. Two developments make this simulation more realistic. One is to improve the dynamic characteristics of a DPD system by modifying the weighting function of the dissipative force and increasing its cutoff radius, so that the Schmidt number can be increased to a practical level. Another is to set up a wormlike chain model in the DPD framework, according to the measured extension properties of a DNA molecule in uniform flows. This chain model is then used to study flows of a DNA suspension through microchannels. Interesting results on the conformation evolution of DNA molecules passing through the microchannels, including periodic contraction-diffusion microchannels, are reported.