Effect of Carbon Spacer Length on Zwitterionic Carboxybetaines

Abstract

Zwitterionic carboxybetaines (CBs) are ubiquitous in nature and considered promising materials for biological and chemical applications. A thorough understanding of the effect of carbon spacer length (CSL) on molecular properties is important. In this work, using molecular dynamics simulation and quantum chemical calculation, we investigated the effect of CSL on the molecular properties of CB molecules. The hydration number, structure, and dynamics of carboxylic and trimethyl ammonium groups were investigated and found to present different behaviors in regards to the variation of CSL. The simulation results with partial charges developed from quantum chemical calculations were compared with those with partial charges from the OPLS all atom (OPLSAA) force field. The hydration free energy of CB molecules and CB-Na(+) association was also studied as a function of CSL.

Recent advances of zwitterionic carboxybetaine materials and their derivatives

“…In general, the structure of the CB monomer can be varied with (1) choices of (meth)acrylate [8,10,23] or (meth)acrylamide [9,21,26] to form polymer backbones, (2) different substitution groups of quaternary ammonium, [27,28] and (3) different number (n) of carbon spacers between carboxylate and quaternary ammonium groups. [9,[28][29][30][31][32] (Meth)acrylate or (meth)acrylamide group can be polymerized to form the polymer backbone via free radical or living radical polymerization methods. This type of polymer backbone not only determines the polymerization condition, but also affects other properties of the materials.…”

Energetic Changes Caused by Antigenic Module Insertion in a Virus-Like Particle Revealed by Experiment and Molecular Dynamics Simulations

“…LINCS algorithm [30] can reset bonds to their correct lengths after an unconstrained update. It is inherently stable and has been extensively used [31],[32],[33],[34],[35]. Periodic boundary was used in x, y, and z directions.…”

Ultrafiltration membranes with markedly different pH- and ion-responsivity by photografted zwitterionic polysulfobetain or polycarbobetain

“…Another difference is the number of methylene groups; SPE has 3 methylene groups between the charged groups whereas CBMA has 2 methylene groups between the charged groups. Oppositely charged groups in a zwitterionic moiety interfere with each other and reduce the charge densities of the other group [39]. But this depends also on the number of methylene groups.…”