Poly(phenylacetylene)s with peptide substituents

This Doctoral Thesis is focused on the preparation of brand new peptide-based poly(phenylacetylene)s (PPAs) with targeted functions. Polymeric systems based on biomimetic structures allowed developing stimuli-responsive materials in both water and organic media with potential applications as sensors where controlled conformational changes at pendants lead a preferred helical sense in highly dynamic PPAs studied. Moreover, a novel macromolecular gear was designed, bearing a helical pendant moiety that is able to promote a specific helical sense and scaffold, depending on solvent changes. Finally, a new family of water-soluble helical polymers were generated to evaluate their sensorial abilities when facing different external stimuli such as metal ions, solvent, chiral or achiral molecules, or even pH.