The helical and tubular structures self-assembled from proteins have inspired scientists to design synthetic subunits that can be �polymerized� into supramolecular polymers through coordinated, non-covalent interactions. However, chain-growth polymerization from synthetic macromolecules or nanoparticles remains a challenge because of the difficulty of controlling the interactions of these large subunits. Herein we discuss the synthesis of polypeptide-grafted comb polymers and nanoparticles, and the use of the tunable polypeptide interactions to achieve the controlled assembly in solution. The study shows that the chain growth of supramolecular polymers can be achieved from these polypeptide-grafted subunits and the process occurs in two distinct stages, with a slow nucleation step followed by a faster chain propagation step. We discuss how the electrostatic interactions between the weakly charged subunits may play an important role in the polymerization process.

Supramolecular polymerization from polypeptide-grafted subunits

248th National Meeting (2014)

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