POLY 249 |
| This contribution discusses the use of biologically-inspired peptide sequences as auxiliaries to mediate self-assembly of synthetic macromolecules into hierarchically-organized solution nanostructures. Peptide sequences inspired by the coiled coil motif and “switch” peptides, which can adopt both amphiphilic β-strand conformations as well as α-helical secondary structures, were conjugated to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The aqueous solution self-assembly of these hybrid block copolymers was investigated using a variety of spectroscopic, scattering and microscopic techniques. These experiments revealed that the folding and organization properties of the peptide sequences are retained upon conjugation of PEG and that they provide the driving force for the formation of the different nanoscale structures which were observed. The possibility of using defined peptide sequences to direct structure formation of synthetic polymers together with the potential of peptide sequences to induce a specific biological response offers interesting prospects for the development of novel self-assembled and biologically active materials. |
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Multicompartment Micelles: Higher Order Self-assembly of Block Copolymers
8:30 AM-12:00 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 San Francisco Marriott -- Salon B2, Oral
Division of Polymer Chemistry |