Structure of polypeptide-based diblock copolymers in solution: stimuli-responsive vesicles and micelles.
Polypeptide-based diblock copolymers forming either well-defined self-assembled micelles or vesicles after direct dissolution in water or in dichloromethane have been studied combining light and neutron scattering with electron microscopy experiments. The size of these structures could be reversibly manipulated as a function of environmental changes such as pH and ionic strength in water. Compared to other pH-responsive self-assembled systems based on "classical" polyelectrolytes, these polypeptide-based nanostructures present the ability to give a response in highly salted media as the chain conformational ordering can be controlled. This makes these micelles and vesicles suitable for biological applications: they provide significant advantages in the control of the structure and function of supramolecular self-assemblies.
Chécot
Frédéric
F
Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO-CRNS UMR5629), ENSCPB - Université Bordeaux I, 16, Av. Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France.
Brûlet
Annie
A
Oberdisse
Julian
J
Gnanou
Yves
Y
Mondain-Monval
Olivier
O
Lecommandoux
Sébastien
S
D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008823:Micelles; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions
D001704:Biopolymers; D008823:Micelles; D010455:Peptides; D012996:Solutions