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Full-Text Articles in Polymer Science
Self-Assembled Complexes Of Synthetic Polypeptides And Oppositely Charged Low Molecular Weight Surfactants. Solid-State Properties, William Macknight, Ekaterina A. Ponomarenko, Alan J. Waddon, Kirill N. Bakeev, David A. Tirrell
Self-Assembled Complexes Of Synthetic Polypeptides And Oppositely Charged Low Molecular Weight Surfactants. Solid-State Properties, William Macknight, Ekaterina A. Ponomarenko, Alan J. Waddon, Kirill N. Bakeev, David A. Tirrell
William MacKnight
Solid-state properties of the stoichiometric complexes formed by sodium poly(a,L-glutamate)
and oppositely charged low molecular weight surfactants (alkyltrimethylammonium bromides) were
examined by circular dichroism, infrared, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The polypeptide chains in
the complexes were shown to be predominantly in the a-helical conformation at room temperature. At
higher temperatures, weakening or disruption of intramolecular hydrogen bonds stabilizing the a-helical
conformation was observed. The polypeptide-surfactant complexes were shown to adopt lamellar
structures in the temperature range 20-150 °C. The lamellae consist of alternating layers of
polyglutamate chains and bimolecular layers of surfactant, with the surfactant alkyl chains aligned
perpendicular to …