A new type of coarse-grained model, called MetaParticles (MP), has been developed to simulate the behavior of flexible nanoparticles. This model allows for tuning of the particles’ properties, such as flexibility, surface heterogeneity, and anisotropy, by adjusting the connections between beads that make up the particles. The MP model has been used to study the behavior of nanoparticles with various sizes and symmetries under external stress, and has been found to produce elastomer-like responses with varying degrees of flexibility and rigidity. The researchers have also discovered that the particles’ deformation pathways depend on size, which could lead to the development of tunable nanomaterials with specific properties. The ultimate goal is to use the MP model to improve the performance of nanoparticles in biomedical applications, such as drug delivery and imaging, by better understanding their interactions with cellular membranes. The researchers plan to further develop the MP model by incorporating details gained from atomistic simulations and experiments, with the aim of creating more accurate and relevant simulations of flexible nanoparticles. This research has significant implications for the development of nanoparticles with improved performance in biomedical applications.
Engineering flexible-core nanoparticles through advanced tuning and modeling techniques
