title: Tuning Synthetic Semiflexible Networks by Bending Stiffness.
abstract: The mechanics of complex soft matter often cannot be understood in the classical physical frame of flexible polymers or rigid rods. The underlying constituents are semiflexible polymers, whose finite bending stiffness (κ) leads to nontrivial mechanical responses. A natural model for such polymers is the protein actin. Experimental studies of actin networks, however, are limited since the persistence length (l_{p}∝κ) cannot be tuned. Here, we experimentally characterize this parameter for the first time in entangled networks formed by synthetically produced, structurally tunable DNA nanotubes. This material enabled the validation of characteristics inherent to semiflexible polymers and networks thereof, i.e., persistence length, inextensibility, reptation, and mesh size scaling. While the scaling of the elastic plateau modulus with concentration G_{0}∝c^{7/5} is consistent with previous measurements and established theories, the emerging persistence length scaling G_{0}∝l_{p} opposes predominant theoretical predictions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Physics I, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.|Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstraße 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schuldt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Physics I, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.|Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstraße 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schnauß
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Physics I, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.|Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstraße 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Händler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Physics I, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.|Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstraße 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glaser
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstraße 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Physics I, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Golde
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Physics I, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Josef A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Käs
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstraße 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Smith