Influence of Aspartate Moieties on the Self‐Healing Behavior of Histidine‐Rich Supramolecular Polymers

Enke, Marcel; Köps, Lukas; Zechel, Stefan; Brendel, Johannes C.; Vitz, Jürgen; Hager, Martin D.; Schubert, Ulrich S.

Abstract:

Aspartate incorporated into the protein structure of mussel byssal threads is believed to play an important role, besides the reversible histidine–zinc interactions, in the self-healing behavior of mussel byssal threads. Therefore, copolymers containing both aspartate and histidine moieties are synthesized in order to investigate the influence of aspartate on the complexation of zinc(II) as well as on the self-healing behavior and the mechanical properties of the resulting supramolecular networks. For this purpose, isothermal titra-tion calorimetry measurements of a model aspartate compound as well as of these copolymers are performed and the thermodynamic parameters are utilized for the design of self-healing copolymers. For this purpose, n-lauryl methacrylate-based copolymers containing histidine and aspartate are syn-thesized and crosslinked with zinc(II) acetate. The self-healing behavior of the supramolecular networks is investigated using scratch healing tests and the mechanical properties by nanoindentation.

Research areas:

• Polymer Science

Year:

2018

Type of Publication:

Article

Journal:

Macromolecular Rapid Communications

Volume:

39

Pages:

1700742

DOI:

10.1002/marc.201700742