Responsive organogels formed by supramolecular self assembly of PEG-block-allyl-functionalized racemic polypeptides into β-sheet-driven polymeric ribbons.

ABSTRACT: A chemically reactive hybrid diblock polypeptide gelator poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(dl-allylglycine) (PEG-b-PDLAG) is an exceptional material, due to the characteristics of thermo-reversible organogel formation driven by the combination of a hydrophilic polymer chain linked to a racemic oligomeric homopeptide segment in a range of organic solvents. One-dimensional stacking of the block copolymers is demonstrated by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray scattering to be driven by the supramolecular assembly of β-sheets in peptide blocks to afford well-defined fiber-like structures, resulting in gelation. These supramolecular interactions are sufficiently strong to achieve ultra low critical gelation concentrations (ca. 0.1 wt%) in N,N-dimethylformamide (D

SUBMITTER: Zou J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4361078 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature