DNA dynamics can only be understood by taking into account its complex mechanical
behavior at different length scales. At the micrometer level, the mechanical properties of …

Nanofluidic structures have over the last two decades emerged as a powerful platform for
detailed analysis of DNA on the kilobase pair length scale. When DNA is confined to a …

Investigation of hyaluronic acid (HA) morphology and mechanical properties at a single-
molecule level is important for the development of HA based biomaterials. We have …

Abstract Structure and deformability of the DNA double helix play a key role in protein and
small ligand binding, in genome regulation via looping, or in nanotechnology applications …

Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a highly studied vector for nonviral gene delivery, with a high
transfection efficiency that has been linked with its pH responsiveness. Atomistic molecular …

We report that trivalent cobalt hexammine cations decrease the persistence length,
stretching modulus, helical density, and size of plectonemes formed under torque of DNA …

The response of double-stranded DNA to external mechanical stress plays a central role in
its interactions with the protein machinery in the cell. Modern atomistic force fields have …

Highlights•DNA molecules are often bent, twisted, and stretched.•DNA mechanics has been
studied using many theoretical models.•DNA mechanics crucially depends on physiological …

Double-stranded DNA bears the highest linear negative charge density (2e− per base-pair)
among all biopolymers, leading to strong interactions with cations and dipolar water …

The mechanical properties of DNA have enabled it to be a structural and sensory element in
many nanotechnology applications. While specific base-pairing interactions and secondary …