Polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) Thin Films Fabricated from a Solvent Mixture for the Co-Assembly of Polymers and Proteins.

ABSTRACT: The co-assembly of peptides and proteins in poly(styrene-block-ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) thin films has proven to be a promising method to fabricate polymer-biomolecule functional materials. Contrary to the covalent immobilization of biomolecules on surfaces, co-assembly presents the opportunity to arrange cargo within thin films, which can be released upon exposure to an aqueous environment. The use of a mixed solvent system ensures the solubilization of hydrophobic polymer as well as the solubilization and protection of the biomolecule cargo. However, to produce largely defect-free films of PS-b-PEO from a solvent mixture containing water is challenging due to the narrow range of solvent miscibility and polymer/protein solubility. This work explores the limits of us

SUBMITTER: Kollmetz T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7581074 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature