Interstrands

Interstrands is a term used across disciplines to describe the interactions or bonds that occur between two or more separate strands within a system. The concept encompasses chemical crosslinks, physical entanglements, and directional alignments that tie strands together, influencing structural integrity and functional behavior.

In biology and genetics, interstrand crosslinks connect opposing strands of a nucleic acid duplex, most notably DNA. Such crosslinks impede strand separation, replication, and transcription. They can arise from environmental agents, chemotherapy drugs, or biological processes, and their presence is a key factor in cellular responses to damage and to genotoxic stress.

In polymer science and materials engineering, interstrand crosslinking refers to covalent or ionic bonds formed between polymer chains. These crosslinks increase rigidity, thermal stability, solvent resistance, and mechanical strength, often at the expense of elasticity. Common crosslinkers include multifunctional compounds used in epoxy, silicone, and rubber chemistries.

In textiles and fibrous materials, interstrand interactions describe how individual strands or fibers bind within a composite or fabric, affecting strength, abrasion resistance, and durability. Mechanisms include friction, hydrogen bonding, and chemical bonding at the interfaces.

Methods to study interstrands include spectroscopy, microscopy, rheology, and mechanical testing, as well as computational modeling to understand bond distribution and effects on macroscopic properties.