5.4 Worm-like Micelles
Zhang and coworkers studied the differences between self-assembly of cyclic and
linear nonionic amphiphilic copolypeptoids of N-methyl- and N-decylglycine
[117]. The differences were minor with respect to the final product but differed in
the formation kinetics. Initially, spherical micelles formed in methanolic or aqueous solutions/suspensions. However, within a few days, both materials eventually
formed cylindrical (worm-like) micelles. These micelles were only a few
nanometers in diameter but several microns in length.
6 Conclusion and Outlook
Peptoids are an extremely versatile materials platform. They can be prepared either
in a step-wise synthesis to yield sequence-specific oligomers and small polymers or
by ring-opening polymerization. Both synthetic approaches are very interesting for
the formation of hierarchical structures. As opposed to solid-phase peptide synthesis, SPSS uses reagents that are typically very inexpensive and readily available in a
large variety. Although the sequence-specific uniform peptoids have been studied in
great detail and tremendous advances have been made, the non-uniform peptoids
that are accessible via ring-opening polymerization have been studied much less. In
part, this can be attributed to the fact that it was established only very recently that
NuLROP of NNCAs is very versatile and can be used to prepare complex yet welldefined polymers. The future will show whether this synthetic promise can be
translated into interesting and complex hierarchical structures via self-assembly.
From the perspective of a polymer chemist, it will be particularly interesting to see
what contribution non-uniform peptoids make possible. We now have the tools to
combine SPSS and ring-opening polymerization, but whether these tools are particularly helpful in creating more complex hierarchical structure more easily
remains to be elucidated.
Clearly, the potential that peptoids hold for the preparation of hierarchical
structures and self-assemblies has not been fully explored. We think that recent
advances in both SPSS and NuLROP extend this potential even further. For the
creation of hierarchical structures, peptoids appear to be an ideal platform due to the
synthetic flexibility and definition available for peptoids, but much remains to
be done.
Many authors have stated that one goal is the preparation of a peptoid-based
synthetic enzyme. It appears that all the pieces for this puzzle are now available and
we expect the puzzle to be solved in the near future.
Acknowledgement We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the German Plastics
Center SKZ and the Universita ¨t Wu ¨rzburg for start-up funding.
410
N. Gangloff and R. Luxenhofer
Zhang and coworkers studied the differences between self-assembly of cyclic and
linear nonionic amphiphilic copolypeptoids of N-methyl- and N-decylglycine
[117]. The differences were minor with respect to the final product but differed in
the formation kinetics. Initially, spherical micelles formed in methanolic or aqueous solutions/suspensions. However, within a few days, both materials eventually
formed cylindrical (worm-like) micelles. These micelles were only a few
nanometers in diameter but several microns in length.
6 Conclusion and Outlook
Peptoids are an extremely versatile materials platform. They can be prepared either
in a step-wise synthesis to yield sequence-specific oligomers and small polymers or
by ring-opening polymerization. Both synthetic approaches are very interesting for
the formation of hierarchical structures. As opposed to solid-phase peptide synthesis, SPSS uses reagents that are typically very inexpensive and readily available in a
large variety. Although the sequence-specific uniform peptoids have been studied in
great detail and tremendous advances have been made, the non-uniform peptoids
that are accessible via ring-opening polymerization have been studied much less. In
part, this can be attributed to the fact that it was established only very recently that
NuLROP of NNCAs is very versatile and can be used to prepare complex yet welldefined polymers. The future will show whether this synthetic promise can be
translated into interesting and complex hierarchical structures via self-assembly.
From the perspective of a polymer chemist, it will be particularly interesting to see
what contribution non-uniform peptoids make possible. We now have the tools to
combine SPSS and ring-opening polymerization, but whether these tools are particularly helpful in creating more complex hierarchical structure more easily
remains to be elucidated.
Clearly, the potential that peptoids hold for the preparation of hierarchical
structures and self-assemblies has not been fully explored. We think that recent
advances in both SPSS and NuLROP extend this potential even further. For the
creation of hierarchical structures, peptoids appear to be an ideal platform due to the
synthetic flexibility and definition available for peptoids, but much remains to
be done.
Many authors have stated that one goal is the preparation of a peptoid-based
synthetic enzyme. It appears that all the pieces for this puzzle are now available and
we expect the puzzle to be solved in the near future.
Acknowledgement We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the German Plastics
Center SKZ and the Universita ¨t Wu ¨rzburg for start-up funding.
410
N. Gangloff and R. Luxenhofer