pH-Switchable ampholytic supramolecular copolymers.
β-sheet-encoded anionic and cationic dendritic peptide amphiphiles form supramolecular copolymers when self-assembled in a 1:1 feed ratio of the monomers. These ampholytic materials have been designed for on-off polymerization in response to pH triggers. The cooperative supramolecular self-assembly process is switched on at a physiologically relevant pH value and can be switched off by increasing or decreasing the pH value.
Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster (Germany) http://www.besenius-group.com; CeNTech, Münster (Germany).
Hendrik
H
Frisch
Jan Patrick
JP
Unsleber
David
D
Lüdeker
Martin
M
Peterlechner
Gunther
G
Brunklaus
Mark
M
Waller
Pol
P
Besenius
D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
D011108:Polymers
cooperativity; copolymerization; pH switch; self-assembly; stimuli-responsive behavior