Fluctuation-induced dispersion forces on thin DNA films

Abstract

In this work, the calculation of Casimir forces across thin DNA films is carried out based on the Lifshitz theory. The variations of Casimir forces due to the DNA thicknesses, volume fractions of containing water, covering media and substrates are investigated. For a DNA film suspended in the air or water, the Casimir force is attractive, and its magnitude increases with decreasing the thickness of DNA films and the water volume fraction. For DNA films deposited on a dielectric(silica) substrate, the Casimir force is attractive for the air environment. However, the Casimir force shows unusual features in a water environment. Under specific conditions, switching signs of the Casimir force from attractive to repulsive can be achieved by increasing the DNA-film thickness. Finally, the Casimir force for DNA films deposited on a metallic substrate are investigated. The Casimir force is dominant by the repulsive interactions at a small DNA-film thickness for both the air and water environment. In a water environment, the Casimir force turns out to be attractive at a large DNA-film thickness, and a stable Casimir equilibrium can be found. In addition to the adhesion stability, our finding could be applicable to the problems of condensation and de-condensation of DNA, due to the fluctuation-induced dispersion forces.