Single-chain mechanical property of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) and interaction with small molecules

The single-chain nanomechanical properties of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVPr) and povidone-iodine (PVPr-I2) under different solution conditions have been investigated by using an atomic force microscopy based technique-single-molecule force spectroscopy. The force-extension curve (force curve) of PVPr in water is markedly deviated from that obtained in ethanol or tetrahydrofuran, suggesting a different interaction between PVPr and the solvents. Moreover, we have comparatively studied the force signals of PVPr-I2 and PVPr in an aqueous solution of KI or KI3 and found that only KI3 influences the elastic property of PVPr dramatically. These experimental results indicate that there exists a specific interaction between PVPr and KI3, which is also supported by Fourier transform infrared data. By the integration of the deviated area between the force curve and the modified freely jointed chain fitting curve, we estimate that the energy needed to destroy the interaction between PVPr and water is 5.3 kT and between PVPr and KI3 is 3.6 kT per repeating unit, respectively.