title: Generation of multiblock copolymers by PCR: synthesis, visualization and nanomechanical properties.
abstract: PCR was successfully implemented into polymer chemistry to produce linear multiblock structures up to pentablock architectures. Salient features of the generated DNA polymer hybrids were the ultrahigh molecular weights and their structural accuracy. Besides pushing the limits in block copolymer synthesis. a highly sophisticated characterization of the DNA/synthetic polymer hybrids was carried out by scanning force microscopy (SFM). Direct visualization revealed single polymer chains with the expected contour lengths for the DNA blocks and a characteristic kink at the central organic polymer unit bridging them. Furthermore, DNA triblock copolymers were manipulated by SFM, which so far has only been demonstrated for neat DNA and dendronized polymers. Upon blowing circular topologies, the DNA and the organic polymer chain have been extended and the contours of the three blocks could thereby be imaged separately.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Fikri E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Alemdaroglu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zöphel
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Jürgen P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rabe
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrmann
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D019563:Mechanics; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004247:DNA