Indistinguishability of the models of molecular self-assembly

Abstract

Numerous applications dealing with molecular aggregation at the interface of biology, physics and chemistry use either the dimer or the indefinite equilibrium constant models even though there is the well-known property of indistinguishability of the models with respect to fitting experimental data by various experimental techniques. The problem of indistinguishability is uncovered in the present work and the way in which the existing paradigm of how these models should be applied to analysis of molecular self-association is suggested.

Keywords:

• self-assembly
• dimer model
• indefinite association model
• indistinguishability

Acknowledgement

Prof. David B. Davies (Birkbeck College, University of London) is thanked for valuable comments on the manuscript.