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Related Concept Videos

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers01:24

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

Copolymers are the products obtained from the polymerization of multiple monomer species. So, in a polymer chain itself, there can be multiple repeating units that come from different monomers. The process of synthesizing a polymer from different monomer species is called copolymerization. When two monomers are involved, the polymer is known as a bipolymer. Polymers with three and four monomers are termed terpolymers and quaterpolymers, respectively. Figure 1 depicts the copolymerization of...
Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments01:18

Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments

Cytoskeletal filaments are polymeric forms of smaller protein subunits. However, individual cytoskeletal filaments may easily disassemble or associate with other similar filaments to form rigid structures. Microfilaments, made of actin monomers, rely on actin-binding proteins to form bundles and create networks of individual actin filaments. Microtubules rely on microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to form sturdy cylindrical structures. However, the proteins involved in forming complex...
Formation of Intermediate Filaments00:57

Formation of Intermediate Filaments

Intermediate filaments are cytoskeletal proteins with higher tensile strength and flexibility than microfilaments and microtubules. Unlike the other two cytoskeletal proteins, intermediate filament formation lacks the enzymatic activity to hydrolyze nucleotides like ATP and GTP to generate energy for polymerization. Therefore, the formation of intermediate filaments is multistep self-assembly. The involvement of any accessory proteins in intermediate filament formation has not yet been reported.
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments01:11

Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments

The polymerization of G-actin monomers into filamentous F-actin is a multi-step process. Once the F-actins are formed, they can bundle together in different arrangements to form higher-order networks and regulate cellular functions. Common examples include the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia at the cell's leading edge by actin reorganization in a migrating cell. The microvilli on the brush border epithelial cells are also formed through the F-actin network.
The high-order actin networks...
Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.

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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives
09:22

Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives

Published on: February 7, 2017

Hierarchically ordered microstructures self-assembled from comb-coil block copolymers.

Liquan Wang1, Jiaping Lin, Liangshun Zhang

  • 1Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of the Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|March 5, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Comb-coil block copolymers exhibit hierarchical self-assembly into complex structures. Their phase behavior is influenced by interaction strength and coil block length, impacting lamellar periods.

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Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides
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Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives
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Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers
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Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides
07:26

Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides

Published on: November 21, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Materials Science
  • Soft Matter Physics

Background:

  • Comb-coil block copolymers are complex macromolecules with unique architectural features.
  • Understanding their self-assembly is crucial for designing advanced materials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hierarchical self-assembly behaviors of comb-coil block copolymers.
  • To map the phase diagram and understand structure formation mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Real-space implemented self-consistent field theory (SCF) was employed.
  • Systematic variation of interaction strength and coil block length.

Main Results:

  • Hierarchical microstructures with two distinct length scales were observed.
  • Various structure-within-structure morphologies (e.g., lamella-within-lamella, cylinder-within-cylinder) were identified.
  • Large-scale structures arise from coil-comb segregation; small-scale structures from intra-comb microphase separation.

Conclusions:

  • Hierarchical self-assembly in comb-coil block copolymers is controllable via interaction strength and coil block length.
  • Lamellar periods are significantly dependent on interaction strengths, offering design flexibility.