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Elastin-like Polypeptide Diblock Copolymers Self-Assembleinto Weak Micelles.
- Source :
-
Macromolecules . Jun2015, Vol. 48 Issue 12, p4183-4195. 13p. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- The self-assembly of synthetic diblockcopolymers has been extensivelystudied experimentally and theoretically. In contrast, self-assemblyof polypeptide diblock copolymers has so far been mostly studied experimentally.We discovered that the theory developed for synthetic diblock copolymerdoes not fully explain the self-assembly of elastin-like polypeptidediblock copolymers, leading us to generalize the theory to make itapplicable for these polypeptides. We demonstrated that elastin-likepolypeptide diblocks self-assemble into weak micelles with dense coresand almost unstretched coronas, a state not previously observed forsynthetic diblock copolymers. Weak micelles form if the surface tensionat the coreâcorona interface is low compared to that expectedof a micelle with a dense core. The predictions of the theory of weakmicelles for the critical micelle temperature, hydrodynamic radius,and aggregation number of elastin-like polypeptide diblocks are inreasonable agreement with the experimentally measured values. Theunique and unprecedented control of amphiphilicity in these recombinantpeptide polymers reveals a new micellar state that has not been previouslyobserved in synthetic diblock copolymer systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *ELASTIN
*POLYPEPTIDES
*DIBLOCK copolymers
*MOLECULAR self-assembly
*MICELLES
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00249297
- Volume :
- 48
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Macromolecules
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 103545684
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.5b00431