Disk-like micelles with cylindrical pores from amphiphilic polypeptide block copolymers

An unprecedented two-dimensional (2D) disk-like micelle with cylindrical pores was achieved for the first time by self-assembly of the amphiphilic block copolypeptide poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate) (PEG-b-PBLG) in solution. The aggregate structures were fully characterized by TEM, SEM, ¹H NMR, AFM and CD. The research results showed that the α-helical conformation of PBLG blocks plays a key role in the formation process of a disk-like morphology. By tuning the ratio between the hydrophilic block and hydrophobic block in PEG-b-PBLG copolymers, various aggregate structures including micelles, disk-like micelles, vesicles and large vesicles can be achieved. The research results are helpful to expand the self-assembly fields and can provide more nanostructural materials.