Biological and Biomimetic Comb Polyelectrolytes

Polymers

Thomas Andrew Waigh¹ 

[1] Biological Physics, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK

关键词: comb;    polyelectrolyte;    polyampholyte;    glycoprotein;    proteoglycan;    peptide;    mucin;    aggrecan;    self-assembly;    liquid crystal;    brush;   

DOI  :  10.3390/polym2020057

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Some new phenomena involved in the physical properties of comb polyelectrolyte solutions are reviewed. Special emphasis is given to synthetic biomimetic materials, and the structures formed by these molecules are compared with those of naturally occurring glycoprotein and proteoglycan solutions. Developments in the determination of the structure and dynamics (viscoelasticity) of comb polymers in solution are also covered. Specifically the appearance of multi-globular structures, helical instabilities, liquid crystalline phases, and the self-assembly of the materials to produce hierarchical comb morphologies is examined. Comb polyelectrolytes are surface active and a short review is made of some recent experiments in this area that relate to their morphology when suspended in solution. We hope to emphasize the wide variety of phenomena demonstrated by the vast range of naturally occurring comb polyelectrolytes and the challenges presented to synthetic chemists designing biomimetic materials.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2010 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.