Analysis of stability of macromolecular clusters in dilute heteropolymer solutions

Abstract

We study the formation of clusters consisting of several chains in dilute solutions of amphiphilic heteropolymers. By means of the Gaussian variational theory we show that in a region of the phase diagram within the conventional two-phase coexistence region mesoglobules of equal size possess the lowest free energy. Monte Carlo simulation confirms that the mesoglobules are stabilised due to micro-phase separation, which introduces a preferred length scale. The very existence of such mesoscopic structures is related to a delicate balance of the energetic and entropic terms under the connectivity constraints. The issue of size monodispersity and fluctuations for mesoglobules is investigated.