Preparation and characterization of highly oriented poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate) networks and gels with long channels with micrometer-scale diameters

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2004-04, Vol.92 (2), p.1053-1060
• Main Authors: Yamane, Yuji, Kanekiyo, Masahito, Koizumi, Satoshi, Zhao, Chenhua, Kuroki, Shigeki, Ando, Isao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aminoacid polymers; Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; gels; imaging; networks; NMR; phase separation; Physicochemistry of polymers; Synthetic biopolymers
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.20002

Poly(γ‐benzyl L‐glutamate) (PBLG) gels with highly oriented α‐helix chains were prepared by the crosslinking of PBLG chains through changes in the concentration of ethylenediamine, used as a crosslinker, in 1,4‐dioxane in the presence of the strong magnetic field of an NMR magnet with a strength of 10.5 T. The experimental results showed that in one of these gels, long channels with an average diameter of about 100 μm were formed by phase separation between crosslinked PBLG and the solvent. Furthermore, three‐dimensional 1H‐NMR imaging patterns showed that the long channels were aligned in the direction parallel to the α‐helix axis. The PBLG gel was swollen in the direction perpendicular to the α‐helix axis, but it was not swollen in the direction parallel to the α‐helix axis. The X‐ray diffraction patterns of the gel showed that the interchain distance between the two nearest neighboring PBLG chains changed from 13.4 to 18.1 Å with a change in the swelling degree. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1053–1060, 2004