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Thermodynamic Confinement and α-Helix Persistence Length in Poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate)-b-poly(dimethyl siloxane)-b-poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate) Triblock Copolymers

P. Papadopoulos and G. Floudas*

Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1186, 451 10 Ioannina, Greece, and Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Biomedical Research Institute (FORTH-BRI)

I. Schnell and I. Lieberwirth

Max-Planck Institut fr Polymerforschung, D-55021 Mainz, Germany

T. Q. Nguyen and H.-A. Klok

Laboratoire des Polymres, Institut des Matriaux, cole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

Biomacromolecules, 2006, 7 (2), pp 618–626

DOI: 10.1021/bm050772t

Publication Date (Web): January 7, 2006

In papers with more than one author, the asterisk indicates the name of the author to whom inquiries about the paper should be addressed.

Abstract

The structure and the associated dynamics of a series of poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate)-b-poly(dimethyl siloxane)-b-poly(γ-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 α-helical segments embedded within the block copolymer nanodomains. The α-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.

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