Block Copolymer Nanotemplates for Aligning Actin Filaments

R. J. Composto (SEAS) and Y. Goldman (SOM) The University of Pennsylvania

Overview

This collaboration aims to organize block copolymers as templates for F-actin organization. We have evaluated several amphiphilic diblock copolymers that self-assemble into spherical domains at a length scale that is commensurate with biopolymer size and remain stable during F-actin attachment in buffer. As described below, a new method is demonstrated to stabilize nanoscale domains and covert them to positive charge to become discrete attachment points for F-actin adsorption.