Homogenization Theory for the Prediction of Obstructed Solute Diffusivity in Macromolecular Solutions.

ABSTRACT: The study of diffusion in macromolecular solutions is important in many biomedical applications such as separations, drug delivery, and cell encapsulation, and key for many biological processes such as protein assembly and interstitial transport. Not surprisingly, multiple models for the a-priori prediction of diffusion in macromolecular environments have been proposed. However, most models include parameters that are not readily measurable, are specific to the polymer-solute-solvent system, or are fitted and do not have a physical meaning. Here, for the first time, we develop a homogenization theory framework for the prediction of effective solute diffusivity in macromolecular environments based on physical parameters that are easily measurable and not specific to the macromolecule-solute

SUBMITTER: Donovan P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4701423 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature