Dear Colleagues,

Continuing on the success of the Special Issue of Polymers, “Semiflexible Polymers I and II”, we are delighted to open a new Special Issue entitled, “Semiflexible Polymers III”. 

Semiflexible chains serve as a coarse-grained representation of macromolecules whenever random or self-avoiding walk statistics do not apply, i.e., when the dimensions of a macromolecule do not significantly exceed its persistence length. Semiflexibility also manifests itself when a polymer is strongly stretched, or when it is confined by boundaries. Prominent systems containing semiflexible chains include various biomolecules, such as DNA and the cytoskeletal filaments (F-actin, nanotubes, intermediate filaments), dendronized polymers, and their networks and brushes. Semiflexible chains are an integral part of polymer physics education. However, even if fundamental results have been obtained for linear semiflexible chains, the number of open issues is larger. The minimal theoretical model which acts as the classical paradigm in the field is the worm-like chain (WLC), a locally inextensible, fluctuating, one-dimensional curve with bending stiffness. Despite its appeal and success with long dsDNA, however, it is inadequate to describe the conformations and elasticity of many semiflexible systems. Electrostatic interactions, quenched or reversible inhomogeneities along the polymer contour, supramolecular structures (e.g., actin bundles and DNA nanotubes, which themselves may act as semiflexible building blocks of higher-order assemblies), cross-links, helicity, and twist stiffness modify the simple, uniform WLC behavior. Besides thermal and possibly quenched disorders, semiflexible polymers in living matter also experience active noise. The polymer itself may have activity, converting chemical energy to mechanical work, or it can be passive, interacting with an active environment. 

This Special Issue is concerned with the statics and dynamics, simulation and application of semiflexible polymers in the WLC framework and beyond, including linear, branched, ring, and thick polymers and their networks or gels. Topics may include polymer solutions or scaling behavior, knots, entanglements, interactions, lattice and continuous representations, buckling, bond breaking, translocation, and scattering properties in both equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium situations. Papers may also address semiflexible chains subjected to flow and external stimuli or fields, and semiflexible chains in composites or in biological systems subjected to confinement or as part of nematic or other networks. Ideally, contributions will focus on fundamental results, algorithms, mechanisms, statistical physics, and/or applications that will help to compile the current state-of-the-art findings. Both original contributions and reviews are welcome. 

Prof. Dr. Martin Kröger
Dr. Panayotis Benetatos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• semiflexible polymers
• worm-like polymers
• polymer brushes
• polymer physics
• bending
• buckling
• tumbling
• translocation
• networks
• entanglements
• liquid crystals
• composites
• confinement
• actin filaments
• dna
• supramolecular structures
• bundles
• electrostatic interactions
• active matter
• twist
• helicity
• disorder
• phase transitions