How specific ion effects influence the mechanical behaviors of amide macromolecules? A cross-scale study.

The mechanisms of specific ion effects on the properties of amide macromolecules is essential to understanding the evolution of life. Because most biological macromolecules contain both complex hydrophilic and hydrophobic structures, it is challenging to accurately identify the contributions of molecular structure to macroscopic behaviors. Herein, we investigated the influence of specific ion effects on the mechanical behaviors of poly(-isopropylacrylamide) and neutral polyacrylamide (, PNIPAM and NPAM), through a cross-scale study that includes single-molecule force spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulation and macro mechanical method.