Thermodynamic confinement and alpha-helix persistence length in poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate)-b-poly(dimethyl siloxane)-b-poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) triblock copolymers.
The structure and the associated dynamics of a series of poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate)-b-poly(dimethyl siloxane)-b-poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG-b-PDMS-b-PBLG) triblock copolymers were investigated using small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering, NMR, transmission electron microscopy, and dielectric spectroscopy, respectively. The structural analysis revealed phase separation in the case of the longer blocks with defected alpha-helical segments embedded within the block copolymer nanodomains. The alpha-helical persistence length was found to depend on the degree of segregation; thermodynamic confinement and chain stretching results in the partial annihilation of helical defects.
Papadopoulos
P
P
Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1186, 451 10 Ioannina, Greece.
Floudas
G
G
Schnell
I
I
Lieberwirth
I
I
Nguyen
T Q
TQ
Klok
H-A
HA
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010316:Particle Size; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012015:Reference Standards; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012833:Siloxanes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012841:Simethicone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry*; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014965:X-Rays
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D012833:Siloxanes; C510415:poly(gamma-benzylglutamate)-b-poly(dimethyl siloxane)-b-poly(gamma-benzylglutamate); D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D012841:Simethicone