Uniform and Robust Peptoid Microsphere Coatings

Martinoid: the peptoid martini force field

Many exciting innovations have been made in the development of assembling peptoid materials. Typically, these have utilised large oligomeric sequences, though elsewhere the study of peptide self-assembly has yielded numerous examples of assemblers below 6-8 residues in length, evidencing that minimal peptoid assemblers are not only feasible but expected. A productive means of discovering such materials is through the application of in silico screening methods, which often benefit from the use of coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations. At the current level of development, CG models for peptoids are insufficient and we have been motivated to develop a Martini forcefield compatible peptoid model. A dual bottom-up and top-down parameterisation approach has been adopted, in keeping with the Martini parameterisation methodology, targeting the reproduction of atomistic MD dynamics and trends in experimentally obtained log D7.4 partition coefficients, respectively. This work has yielded valuable insights into the practicalities of parameterising peptoid monomers. Additionally, we demonstrate that our model can reproduce the experimental observations of two very different peptoid assembly systems, namely peptoid nanosheets and minimal tripeptoid assembly. Further we can simulate the peptoid helix secondary structure relevant for antimicrobial sequences. To be of maximum usefulness to the peptoid research community, we have developed freely available code to generate all requisite simulation files for the application of this model with Gromacs MD software.

Hierarchical Nanomaterials Assembled from Peptoids and Other Sequence-Defined Synthetic Polymers

In nature, the self-assembly of sequence-specific biopolymers into hierarchical structures plays an essential role in the construction of functional biomaterials. To develop synthetic materials that can mimic and surpass the function of these natural counterparts, various sequence-defined bio- and biomimetic polymers have been developed and exploited as building blocks for hierarchical self-assembly. This review summarizes the recent advances in the molecular self-assembly of hierarchical nanomaterials based on peptoids (or poly-N-substituted glycines) and other sequence-defined synthetic polymers. Modern techniques to monitor the assembly mechanisms and characterize the physicochemical properties of these self-assembly systems are highlighted. In addition, discussions about their potential applications in biomedical sciences and renewable energy are also included. This review aims to highlight essential features of sequence-defined synthetic polymers (e.g., high stability and protein-like high-information content) and how these unique features enable the construction of robust biomimetic functional materials with high programmability and predictability, with an emphasis on peptoids and their self-assembled nanomaterials.

The Diverse World of Foldamers: Endless Possibilities of Self-Assembly

Different classes of foldamers, which are synthetic oligomers that adopt well-defined conformations in solution, have been the subject of extensive studies devoted to the elucidation of the forces driving their secondary structures and their potential as bioactive molecules. Regardless of the backbone type (peptidic or abiotic), the most important features of foldamers are the high stability, easy predictability and tunability of their folding, as well as the possibility to endow them with enhanced biological functions, with respect to their natural counterparts, by the correct choice of monomers. Foldamers have also recently started playing a starring role in the self-assembly of higher-order structures. In this review, selected articles will be analyzed to show the striking number of self-assemblies obtained for foldamers with different backbones, which will be analyzed in order of increasing complexity. Starting from the simplest self-associations in solution (e.g., dimers of β-strands or helices, bundles, interpenetrating double and multiple helices), the formation of monolayers, vesicles, fibers, and eventually nanostructured solid tridimensional morphologies will be subsequently described. The experimental techniques used in the structural investigation, and in the determination of the driving forces and mechanisms underlying the self-assemblies, will be systematically reported. Where applicable, examples of biomimetic self-assembled foldamers and their interactions with biological components will be described.

Surface-Coated Thermally Expandable Microspheres with a Composite of Polydisperse Graphene Oxide Sheets

Surface-modified thermally expandable microcapsules (TEMs) hold potential for applications in various fields. In this work, we discussed the possible surface coating mechanism and reported the properties of TEMs coated with polyaniline (PANI) and polydisperse graphene oxide sheets (ionic liquid-graphene oxide hybrid nanomaterial (ILs-GO)). The surface coating of PANI/ ILs-GO increased the corresponding particle size and its distribution range. The morphologies analyzed by scanning electron microscopy indicated that no interfacial gap was observed between the microspheres ink and substrate layer during the substrate application. The thermal properties were determined by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. The addition of ILs-GO to the polyaniline coating significantly improved the thermal expansion and thermal conductivity of the microcapsules. The evaporation of hexane present in the core of TEMs was not prevented by the coating of PANI/ ILs-GO. The printing application of TEMs showed excellent adaptability to various flexible substrates with great 3D appearance. By incorporating a flame retardant agent into TEMs coated by PANI/ILs-GO, finally, these TEMs also demonstrated a great flame retardant ability. We expect that these TEM-coated PANI/ ILs-GO are likely to have the potential to improve the functional properties for various applications.

Effect of Adding UV Absorbers Embedded in Carbonate Calcium Templates Covered with Light Responsive Polymer into a Clear Wood Coating

The limited durability of clear coatings is a major issue for the coating and wood industry. The addition of organic UV absorbers improves coating resistance by the absorption and the conversion of the UV radiation into harmless heat. Organic UVAs are prone to degradation and can migrate in the binder of coatings. In this study, commercial UVAs and HALS have been entrapped into CaCO3 templates coated with stimuli responsive polymers. Microspheres were incorporated into a clear acrylic water-based coating formulation. The formulation was applied on glass and wood panels and was placed into an artificial UV chamber. This study presents a comparison between the aesthetic behavior of coating formulations with free and encapsulated commercial UVAs and HALS during the accelerated ageing test. Encapsulation of UVAs was confirmed by XPS and TGA analysis. Results have shown that the coating’s aesthetic was slightly improved when using the encapsulated products.

Sequence Programmable Peptoid Polymers for Diverse Materials Applications

Polymer sequence programmability is required for the diverse structures and complex properties that are achieved by native biological polymers, but efforts towards controlling the sequence of synthetic polymers are, by comparison, still in their infancy. Traditional polymers provide robust and chemically diverse materials, but synthetic control over their monomer sequences is limited. The modular and step-wise synthesis of peptoid polymers, on the other hand, allows for precise control over the monomer sequences, affording opportunities for these chains to fold into well-defined nanostructures. Hundreds of different side chains have been incorporated into peptoid polymers using efficient reaction chemistry, allowing for a seemingly infinite variety of possible synthetically accessible polymer sequences. Combinatorial discovery techniques have allowed the identification of functional polymers within large libraries of peptoids, and newly developed theoretical modeling tools specifically adapted for peptoids enable the future design of polymers with desired functions. Work towards controlling the three-dimensional structure of peptoids, from the conformation of the amide bond to the formation of protein-like tertiary structure, has and will continue to enable the construction of tunable and innovative nanomaterials that bridge the gap between natural and synthetic polymers.