ja403745w_si_003.avi (12.51 MB)
Mesoscale Modulation of Supramolecular Ureidopyrimidinone-Based Poly(ethylene glycol) Transient Networks in Water
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posted on 2013-07-31, 00:00 authored by Roxanne
E. Kieltyka, A. C. H. Pape, Lorenzo Albertazzi, Yoko Nakano, Maartje M. C. Bastings, Ilja K. Voets, Patricia Y. W. Dankers, E. W. MeijerIn natural systems, highly synergistic
non-covalent interactions
among biomolecular components exert mesoscopic control over hierarchical
assemblies. We herein present a multicomponent self-assembly strategy
to tune hierarchical supramolecular polymer architectures in water
using highly affine and directional ureidopyrimidinone-poly(ethylene
glycol)s (UPy-PEG). Using scattering methods and oscillatory rheology,
we observe the structural and mechanical regulation of entangled monofunctional
UPy-PEG fibrils by cross-linking bifunctional UPy-PEG fibrils. This
supramolecular mixing approach opens the door to a range of subtly
distinct materials for chemical and biological applications.