Stereoregularity Drives Precipitation in Polyelectrolyte Complex Formation

ORAL

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of stereoregularity on the formation of polypeptide-based complex formation and assembly into micelles, hydrogels and ordered phases. We demonstrate that fluid complex coacervate formation (rather than solid complex precipitation) between oppositely charged polypeptides requires at least one racemic partner in order to disrupt backbone hydrogen bonding networks and prevent the hydrophobic collapse of the polymers into compact, fibrillar secondary structures. Computer simulations bear this out and enable visualization of the molecular structure of the complexes. The ability to choose between conditions of fluid phase formation and solid phase formation is a useful tool in developing new self-assembled materials based on polyelectrolyte complex formation.

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Authors

  • Matthew Tirrell

    Inistitute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, U. Chicago, University of Chicago

  • Sarah Perry

    Inistitute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, U. Chicago, University of Chicago

  • Lorraine Leon

    Inistitute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, U. Chicago, University of Chicago

  • Matthew Kade

    Inistitute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, University of Chicago

  • Dimitris Priftis

    Inistitute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, U. Chicago, University of Chicago

  • Katie Black

    University of California, Berkeley

  • Kyle Hoffman

    Institute for Molecular Engineering, U. Chicago, University of Chicago

  • Jonathan Whitmer

    Institute for Molecular Engineering, U. Chicago, University of Chicago

  • Jian Qin

    Institute for Molecular Engineering, U. Chicago, University of Chicago

  • Juan J. de Pablo

    Inistitute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, U. Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, University of Chicago, The University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory, Institute for Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago