Topological Effects on Movements of Charged Macromolecules in Crowds*

Charged macromolecules dispersed in aqueous media are ubiquitous since life began on Earth and continue to catalyze formulations of modern materials. A fundamental understanding of the rich phenomenology on movements of charged macromolecules in crowded environments continues to be elusive, due to the long-ranged nature of both the topological correlation from chain connectivity and electrostatic correlation from the charges in the system. Strong coupling among these long-ranged interactions results in a variety of rich behavior unparalleled in uncharged systems. We will present recent advances on the collective dynamics of charged macromolecules in solutions and hydrogels. In particular, the “ordinary-extraordinary” dynamics, single molecule translocation through a protein channel under coupled forces, and the newly discovered topologically frustrated non-diffusive dynamics of charged macromolecules inside charged hydrogels will be discussed.