Multilayers consisting of oriented charged α-helical polypeptides

Polyelectrolyte Multilayers (PEMs) consisting of cationic α‐helical poly(L‐lysine) (PLL) and optionally anionic poly(vinysulfate) (PVS) (i) or α‐helical poly(L‐glutamic acid) (PLG) (ii) were deposited at substrates texturized by parallel nanoscopic surface grooves, respectively. Using dichroic Attenuated Total Reflexion Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy the consecutive deposition, conformation and macromolecular order of stiff polyelectrolytes within PEMs were studied. From the dichroic ratios of the Amide I and Amide II bands order parameters S ⩾ 0.6 (S = 1 for high, S = 0 for low order) were obtained suggesting a significant alignment of charged α‐helical polypeptides in PEMs. For the PEM consisting of PLL/PVS the deposited amount as well as the order parameter S significantly depended on the molecular weight (contour length) of PLL. Furthermore, the related opening angle γ of a model cone consisting of α‐helical PLL rods was proven to be a function of both contour length and width of the confining surface grooves. AFM pictures on PEM‐PLL/PVS showed anisotropically oriented worm‐like structures As a second system PEMs of PLL and PLG, both in the α‐helical conformation, are introduced. A high order parameter of both spectroscopically indistinguishable polypeptides was found. A model of aligned rod/coil (i) and rod/rod (ii) structures was proposed. Finally, multilayers of stiff conductive polymers like polyaniline (PANI) alternating with poly(acrylic acid) (PAC) are introduced. Preliminary results on their deposition and alignment are given.