DataVXThe Journal of Physical Chemistry LettersPaper
journal article·2026-06-04Open access

Kinetic Superselectivity in Multivalent Binding

Vid Ravnik, Baptiste Chabaud, Urban Bren, Galina V. Dubacheva, Tine Curk

The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters· Volume 17· Issue 22
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Source abstract

Abstract

Multivalent binding employs multiple simultaneous supramolecular interactions, increasing avidity and selectivity compared with monovalent binding. While equilibrium aspects of multivalency are well characterized, nonequilibrium behavior remains poorly understood. By combining experiments on hyaluronic acid polymers with kinetic modeling based on stochastic chemical kinetics and molecular dynamics simulations, we systematically investigate the kinetics of multivalent binding. Notably, we find that both association and dissociation kinetics can be more selective than equilibrium binding. We explain this behavior using a two-step binding model featuring a combination of fast, weak and slow, strong interactions. These findings demonstrate a new approach: superselective targeting based on the association rate instead of the equilibrium state. The kinetic theory and experiments presented here provide a fundamental understanding of multivalent kinetics and establish design rules for superselective targeting in out-of-equilibrium systems.
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Research context

Polymers

OpenAlex topics: Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans research · Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials · Supramolecular Chemistry and Complexes

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Département de Chimie Moléculaire, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR 5250, 570 rue de la chimie, CS 40700, 38000 Grenoble, France

The Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška ulica 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia

Institute for Environmental Protection and Sensors, Beloruska ulica 7, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States

Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States

Funding

Agence Nationale de la Recherche · The Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency · Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems

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