Hydrodynamic effects on flow-induced polymer translocation through a microfluidic channel

The flow-induced translocation of polymer chains through a microfluidic channel is investigated using particle-based Dissipative Particle Dynamics and modified Langevin Dynamics approaches. Adaptive noslip wall boundary conditions have been implemented to model fluid flow in the microfluidic channel, paying attention to controlling fluid density fluctuations. By varying the magnitude of the external body force driving the flow, an extensive simulation study of the dynamics of flow-induced translocation of polymers with and without considering hydrodynamic interactions (HIs) was performed. The results show that the HIs can increase the translocation probability and reduce the translocation time. In addition, the results also demonstrate that the solid wall interfacial property exerts a considerable influence on the dynamics of polymer translocation, i.e., an attractive interaction between the solid wall and the polymer increases the translocation time, whereas a repulsive interaction decreases it. 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.