Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Elastin-like Polypeptide Diblock Copolymers Self-Assemble into Weak Micelles

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hassouneh, W; Zhulina, EB; Chilkoti, A; Rubinstein, M
Published in: Macromolecules
2015

The self-assembly of synthetic diblock copolymers has been extensively studied experimentally and theoretically. In contrast, self-assembly of polypeptide diblock copolymers has so far been mostly studied experimentally. We discovered that the theory developed for synthetic diblock copolymer does not fully explain the self-assembly of elastin-like polypeptide diblock copolymers, leading us to generalize the theory to make it applicable for these polypeptides. We demonstrated that elastin-like polypeptide diblocks self-assemble into weak micelles with dense cores and almost unstretched coronas, a state not previously observed for synthetic diblock copolymers. Weak micelles form if the surface tension at the core?corona interface is low compared to that expected of a micelle with a dense core. The predictions of the theory of weak micelles for the critical micelle temperature, hydrodynamic radius, and aggregation number of elastin-like polypeptide diblocks are in reasonable agreement with the experimentally measured values. The unique and unprecedented control of amphiphilicity in these recombinant peptide polymers reveals a new micellar state that has not been previously observed in synthetic diblock copolymer systems.$$nThe self-assembly of synthetic diblock copolymers has been extensively studied experimentally and theoretically. In contrast, self-assembly of polypeptide diblock copolymers has so far been mostly studied experimentally. We discovered that the theory developed for synthetic diblock copolymer does not fully explain the self-assembly of elastin-like polypeptide diblock copolymers, leading us to generalize the theory to make it applicable for these polypeptides. We demonstrated that elastin-like polypeptide diblocks self-assemble into weak micelles with dense cores and almost unstretched coronas, a state not previously observed for synthetic diblock copolymers. Weak micelles form if the surface tension at the core?corona interface is low compared to that expected of a micelle with a dense core. The predictions of the theory of weak micelles for the critical micelle temperature, hydrodynamic radius, and aggregation number of elastin-like polypeptide diblocks are in reasonable agreement with the experimentally measured values. The unique and unprecedented control of amphiphilicity in these recombinant peptide polymers reveals a new micellar state that has not been previously observed in synthetic diblock copolymer systems.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Macromolecules

DOI

ISSN

1520-5835

Publication Date

2015

Related Subject Headings

  • Polymers
  • 40 Engineering
  • 34 Chemical sciences
  • 09 Engineering
  • 03 Chemical Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Hassouneh, W., Zhulina, E. B., Chilkoti, A., & Rubinstein, M. (2015). Elastin-like Polypeptide Diblock Copolymers Self-Assemble into Weak Micelles. Macromolecules. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.5b00431
Hassouneh, Wafa, Ekaterina B. Zhulina, Ashutosh Chilkoti, and Michael Rubinstein. “Elastin-like Polypeptide Diblock Copolymers Self-Assemble into Weak Micelles.” Macromolecules, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.5b00431.
Hassouneh W, Zhulina EB, Chilkoti A, Rubinstein M. Elastin-like Polypeptide Diblock Copolymers Self-Assemble into Weak Micelles. Macromolecules. 2015;
Hassouneh, Wafa, et al. “Elastin-like Polypeptide Diblock Copolymers Self-Assemble into Weak Micelles.” Macromolecules, 2015. Manual, doi:10.1021/acs.macromol.5b00431.
Hassouneh W, Zhulina EB, Chilkoti A, Rubinstein M. Elastin-like Polypeptide Diblock Copolymers Self-Assemble into Weak Micelles. Macromolecules. 2015;
Journal cover image

Published In

Macromolecules

DOI

ISSN

1520-5835

Publication Date

2015

Related Subject Headings

  • Polymers
  • 40 Engineering
  • 34 Chemical sciences
  • 09 Engineering
  • 03 Chemical Sciences