Advances in polyelectrolyte research: counterion binding phenomena, dynamic processes, and the helix‐coil transition of DNA

Abstract

AbstractThe article gives a review about the actual stand on three fields of polyelectrolyte research. They are: counterion binding phenomena, dynamic processes, and the helix‐coil transition of DNA. The most important theories on each field are presented and their predictions are compared with the results of measurements. Various effects are handled in detail. They are: counterion condensation, counterion association, counterion binding in mixed solvents, polyion diffusion, and pressure effects on the melting temperature of DNA. The main purpose of the article is to show which effects are understood theoretically and which are not. Polyelectrolyte properties are sensitive to polyelectrolyte structure and environment. Therefore, a large number of parameters are varied over a wide range. They are: salt concentration, polyion charge, counterion valence, temperature, hydrostatic pressure, and solvent composition. Another intention is to bridge the gap between biological material research such as DNA and the physics and chemistry of synthetic polyelectrolytes and to plead for a closer cooperation between the two fascinating worlds.