Association of two semiflexible polyelectrolytes by interchain linkers: Theory and simulations

The aggregation of two highly charged semiflexible polyelectrolytes in the presence of generalized linkers was discussed. It was found that the interplay between the bending rigidity of the chains and their electrostatic interactions lead to an effective interlinker interaction which was repulsive at large distances and attractive at shorter one. The analysis showed a bounded phase transition from a dilute linker gas where the chains form large loops to a dense disordered linker fluid where the chains were almost parallel.