The successful engineering of smectic phases in solutions and films of monodisperse PBLGs is representative of the more general process by which molecular
assembly can be programmed through the use of artificial genetic information. The
process as applied to PBLG is shown in Scheme 1. The artificial gene directly
controls the length and sequence of the molecule of interest. The sequence of the
polymer determines its conformation; the fact that PBLG is helical in chloroform:
TFA mixtures fixes the molecular dimensions in the nanometer range. The uniformity
Fig. 3 Small-angle X-ray scattering patterns obtained from films of PBLG: (a) monodisperse
sample, DP 76; (b) monodisperse sample, DP 94; and (c) polydisperse sample
Scheme 1 The process of programmed molecular assembly as applied to the design of smectic
mesophases in PBLG solutions and films
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D.A. Tirrell
assembly can be programmed through the use of artificial genetic information. The
process as applied to PBLG is shown in Scheme 1. The artificial gene directly
controls the length and sequence of the molecule of interest. The sequence of the
polymer determines its conformation; the fact that PBLG is helical in chloroform:
TFA mixtures fixes the molecular dimensions in the nanometer range. The uniformity
Fig. 3 Small-angle X-ray scattering patterns obtained from films of PBLG: (a) monodisperse
sample, DP 76; (b) monodisperse sample, DP 94; and (c) polydisperse sample
Scheme 1 The process of programmed molecular assembly as applied to the design of smectic
mesophases in PBLG solutions and films
204
D.A. Tirrell