Controlling nanostructures of globular protein-polymer block copolymers in bulk solutions and in thin films

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, February 2016.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Chang, Dongsook
Other Authors: Bradley D. Olsen.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103277
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author Chang, Dongsook
author2 Bradley D. Olsen.
author_facet Bradley D. Olsen.
Chang, Dongsook
author_sort Chang, Dongsook
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description Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, February 2016.
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spelling mit-1721.1/1032772019-04-11T13:22:44Z Controlling nanostructures of globular protein-polymer block copolymers in bulk solutions and in thin films Chang, Dongsook Bradley D. Olsen. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemical Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemical Engineering. Chemical Engineering. Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, February 2016. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references. The self-assembly of globular protein-polymer diblock copolymers represents a promising technology for protein nanopatterning. The self-assembled materials have a high density of proteins and internal nanostructures that serve as continuous transport pathways for substrates, products, cofactors, and/or charges. The polymer block can act as a protective matrix for the protein, improving its stability and longevity in materials. The self-assembly of protein-polymer diblock copolymers is substantially different from that of traditional synthetic diblock copolymers due to the globular and rigid shape, heterogeneous composition, and anisotropic interactions of proteins. This thesis focuses on the control of nanostructures in self-assembled materials with a goal to gain a better understanding of the governing principles in self-assembly. This thesis presents experimental studies on the effect of modulated interactions between protein and polymers on the self-assembly of globular protein-polymer block copolymers. Bioconjugates composed of a model red fluorescent protein, mCherry, and a synthetic homopolymer with different chemical moieties are synthesized. Modulated interactions between protein and polymer by introducing polymer blocks with different hydrogen bonding capabilities change order-disorder transition concentrations in solution and the type of nanostructures formed. Bioconjugates with a weakly segregating polymer block are found to form a double gyroid structure with Ia3d symmetry, as opposed to perforated lamellae of bioconjugates with a strongly segregating polymer block. Common phase behaviors are also revealed, including the order of lyotropic order-order transitions and a re-entrant disordering behavior at high concentrations. Birefringence of the disordered solutions with increasing protein fraction suggests the formation of a nematic liquid crystalline phase arising from protein interactions. Self-assembly of proteinzwitterionic polymer bioconjugates shows that electrostatic segregation of mCherry constitutes one of the major driving forces for microphase separation. Nanostructures of the conjugates are further controlled by changing solvent selectivity. Important considerations in preparing bioconjugate thin films are also presented and discussed. Surface effects as well as kinetics such as solvent evaporation rate and film coating speed are shown to have a large impact on the long-range order of self-assembled nanostructures. by Dongsook Chang. Ph. D. 2016-06-22T17:55:20Z 2016-06-22T17:55:20Z 2015 2016 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103277 951812675 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 182 pages application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Chemical Engineering.
Chang, Dongsook
Controlling nanostructures of globular protein-polymer block copolymers in bulk solutions and in thin films
title Controlling nanostructures of globular protein-polymer block copolymers in bulk solutions and in thin films
title_full Controlling nanostructures of globular protein-polymer block copolymers in bulk solutions and in thin films
title_fullStr Controlling nanostructures of globular protein-polymer block copolymers in bulk solutions and in thin films
title_full_unstemmed Controlling nanostructures of globular protein-polymer block copolymers in bulk solutions and in thin films
title_short Controlling nanostructures of globular protein-polymer block copolymers in bulk solutions and in thin films
title_sort controlling nanostructures of globular protein polymer block copolymers in bulk solutions and in thin films
topic Chemical Engineering.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103277
work_keys_str_mv AT changdongsook controllingnanostructuresofglobularproteinpolymerblockcopolymersinbulksolutionsandinthinfilms