title: Amphiphilic block copolymers as flexible membrane materials generating structural and functional mimics of green bacterial antenna complexes.
abstract: We describe the ability of a short-chain amphiphilic block copolymer to self-assemble to form an artificial supramolecular light-harvesting system. Specifically, we demonstrate that the 2.5 kDa, poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(butadiene) (PEO-b-PBD), exhibits sufficient morphological flexibility as a membrane material and enables generation of mimics of three-dimensional chlorosomes as well as supported membrane bilayers containing energy acceptors. This overall architecture replicates green bacterial light-harvesting function whereby these assemblies exhibit long-range order and three-dimensional morphology similar to native chlorosomes and are capable of energy transfer internally and to external acceptors, located in a supporting biomimetic polymer membrane. Unlike native green bacterial systems that use multiple lipids as a matrix to generate the appropriate environment for chlorosome assembly and function, the described system matrix is comprised entirely of a single polymer amphiphile. This work demonstrates the potential of short-chain amphiphilic block copolymers in generating self-assembled, bio-mimetic membrane architectures, and in doing so, generates scalable, spatial-energetic landscapes for photonic applications. Finally, the results presented provide evidence of minimal requirements to induce chlorosome-like organization and function.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratories, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA. gbmon@lanl.gov.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Bioenergy and Defense Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87185, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Timlin
authors.affiliation: Bioenergy and Defense Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87185, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Anthony
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratories, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA. gbmon@lanl.gov.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Montaño
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials; D002070:Butadienes / Q000737:chemistry; D041861:Chloroflexus / Q000502:physiology; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry; D004735:Energy Transfer; D008027:Light; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D020724:Elastomers; D011108:Polymers; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C028834:polybutadiene