Molecular Defect-Regulated 1D Supramolecular Polymer and Hydrogel Formation using Multidomain Peptides (B02)

• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 465145163

Multidomain peptide materials combine the structural precision of natural oligopeptide sequences with the scalability of synthetic polymers. Our aim is to develop segmented oligopeptide motifs that allow control over the ratio of intra- to inter-particle folding and therefore the branching (the defect) in 1D supramolecular polymers. These act as cross-linking sites for 1D assemblies and induce the formation of viscoelastic hydrogels, a strategy which provides control over multiple length and time scales. Using a defect engineering methodology, we aim to further develop mechanochromic hydrogels using inter-strand folding defects which are extended with mechanosensitive organic moieties.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1552: Defects and Defect Engineering in Soft Matter
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Pol Besenius