Bundling in semiflexible polymers: A theoretical overview.

Supramolecular assemblies of polymers are key modules to sustain the structure of cells and their function. The main elements of these assemblies are charged semiflexible polymers (polyelectrolytes) generally interacting via a long(er)-range repulsion and a short(er)-range attraction. The most common supramolecular structure formed by these polymers is the bundle. In the present paper, we critically review some recent theoretical and computational advances on the problem of bundle formation, and point a few promising directions for future work.