Solute diffusion in gels: Thirty years of simulations

In this review, we present a summary of computer simulation studies on solute diffusion in gels carried out in the last three decades. Special attention is paid to coarse-grained simulations in which the role of steric and electrostatic interactions on the particle diffusion can be evaluated In addi...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Quesada-Pérez, Manuel, Martín-Molina, Alberto
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Jaén
Repositorio:RUJA. Repositorio Institucional de la Producción Científica de la Universidad de Jaén
OAI Identifier:oai:ruja.ujaen.es:10953/4365
Acceso en línea:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001868620305893?via%3Dihub
https://hdl.handle.net/10953/4365
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Computer simulations
Hydrogels
Gels
coarse-grained simulation
Diffusion
2 Chemistry
2.53 Polymers & Macromolecules
2.53.371 Hydrogels
Descripción
Sumario:In this review, we present a summary of computer simulation studies on solute diffusion in gels carried out in the last three decades. Special attention is paid to coarse-grained simulations in which the role of steric and electrostatic interactions on the particle diffusion can be evaluated In addition, other important characteristics of particle diffusion in gels, such as the stiffness of the gel structure and hydrodynamic interactions, can be taken into account through coarse-grained simulations. Emphasis is placed on how simulation results help to test phenomenological models and to improve the interpretation interof experimental results. Finally, coarse-gained simulations have also been employed to study the diffusion controlled release of drugs from gels. We believe that scientific advances in this line will be useful to better understand the mechanisms that control the diffusive transport of molecules in a wide variety of biological systems.