Current Research Interests:
Packing of DNA in viruses, chromatin and general behavior of biologically relevant polyelectrolytes in confined spaces. Theory of N-tail bridging interactios in dilute nucleosome core solutions and their connection with the anomalous behavior of the second virial coefficient. Theory of structure and order in high density nucleosome core mesophases. Connection between the symmetry of nuclosome core interactions with the symmetry and order of the mesophases.
Direct measurement of intermolecular forces between macromolecules through a combination of osmotic stress and x-ray scattering, in particular the statistical-mechanical basis of the fluctuation enhanced electrostatic repulsion between the DNA helices.
Theoretical investigations of the statistical - mechanical basis of the Poisson - Boltzmann equation and possible generalizations of the same that would include correlation contributions to the interaction free energy as well as self consistent inclusion of polymer degrees of freedom.
Theoretical investigations of the consequences that addition of polyelctrolyte chains would have on the interactions between macroscopic charged surfaces. Mean - field theories of charged polymeric chains between charged surfaces. Conformational properties of charged polymeric chains in confined regions. Stability properties of colloids in the presence of charged polymeric chains.
The influence of the polymer adsorption on the mechanical properties of the adsorbing unrestrained surfaces. The changes in the mechanical parameters such as surface tension, curvature elastic constant and spontaneous curvature of fluid surfaces on addition of polymeric chains that interact with the surface.