Fig. 10
From: Quantifying and controlling bond multivalency for advanced nanoparticle targeting to cells
Biomolecular bonds, with average length S, acting as cell–cell bridges. A To minimize chemical potential, the length of the individual biomolecular bonds stretch and squish so that the cells are at an optimal separation distance, or equilibrium bond length L. When the biomolecular bonds are B stretched with S > L or C compressed with S < L, chemical potential will be elevated, which will eventually direct the system back to the equilibrium state (S = L). From reference [61]