Biopolymer gel swelling analysed with scaling laws and Flory–Rehner theory

• Cloizeaux scaling law applies to osmotic pressure biopolymer solutions.
• C*-theorem applies to biopolymer gels.
• Universal scaling law describes (de)swelling of biopolymer gels.

The swelling of biopolymer gels is analysed with scaling laws from polymer physics, as an alternative for the classical Flory-Rehner theory. With these scaling laws, holding for polymer concentrations in the semi-dilute regime, experimental data on deswelling of gels can be collapsed to a single universal master curve. The predictions made with the scaling laws are similar to those made with the modified Flory-Rehner, where the osmotic pressure is described with a composition-dependent interaction parameter. For gels in the semi-dilute regime we recommend the use of the scaling laws, because their compact, and universal character.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide