Synthesis of polymer-biohybrids: from small to giant surfactants.

摘要: Amphiphiles or surfactants, more popularly known as soaps, are among the oldest chemical compounds used by man. Written text on a clay tablet dated to 2200 B.C. indicates that Babylonians were familiar with soap-like substances. According Ebers papyrus (1550 B.C.), ancient Egyptians bathed regularly in mixture of animal oils, vegetable extracts, and alkaline salts, soap factory bars scented was found ruins Pompeii (79 A.D.). In modern times, use has become universal, we now understand reasonably well what happens when molecules dispersed aqueous solution how cleaning properties work. The latter is related surface-active behavior molecules, which result their amphiphilic, also called amphipathic, character. Although aspect still an important issue, scientists increasingly focusing other for example, self-assembling this can be design non-covalent synthesis new (macro)molecular architectures. These employed nanotechnology drug delivery, applications. This Account will focus three different classes amphiphiles. first low molecular weight amphiphiles, classical amphiphiles context. A short overview given research carried out our group others self-assembly these compounds; particular, ones stabilized polymerization (polymerized vesicles). Next, introduce relatively young field superamphiphiles, macromolecules consisting hydrophobic hydrophilic polymeric block. Finally, constitutes main part Account, provide class so-called giant have enzyme protein polar head polymer tail. We finish conclusions outlook future.