The aim of the project EURO-SEQUENCES is to establish a multidisciplinary training network on the emerging topic of sequence controlled polymers (i.e. macromolecules containing ordered sequences of monomers). It has been shown during the last five years that such polymers open up unprecedented options for the future of manmade materials. Indeed, similarly to biopolymers such as nucleic acids and proteins, synthetic sequence-controlled polymers contain precisely engineered chain-microstructures that allow a fine control over their molecular, nanoscopic and macroscopic properties. For instance, these new types of polymers are relevant for applications in molecular data storage, catalysis, photovoltaics and nanomedicine.
The scientific objectives of the project are listed below:
Objective 1 (Polymer Chemistry): an important goal of the project will be the development of new synthetic routes for preparing sequence-controlled copolymers. In particular, an emphasis will be put on non-biological methods such as iterative chemistry, template chemistry, and chain-growth polymerization. One important target is the development of high-molecular weight sequence-defined polymers using fast and easy chemical protocols. In order to reach that goal, automatized chemical protocols will be used in several individual sub-projects.
Objective 2 (Characterization and sequencing): The analytical methods that are currently used to analyze sequence-controlled macromolecules (e.g. NMR or mass spectrometry) do not allow, in general, a full molecular description of the chain microstructures. Inspired by methods used for the sequencing of proteins and nucleic acids, new approaches will be studied in this project for the analysis of synthetic macromolecules. In particular supramolecular read-outs and nanopore analysis will be developed.
Objective 3 (Self-assembly and folding): As learned from biopolymers such as proteins, the primary structure of synthetic macromolecules has a direct influence on their folding and supramolecular self-organization. Hence, an important objective of the project will be to use controlled comonomer sequences for preparing folded macromolecular origami. In particular, an emphasis will be put on the folding of individual polymer chains into discrete functional nanoparticles (i.e. single-chain technology).
Objective 4 (Materials and properties): The correlation between primary structure and materials properties will be studied in this project. In particular, the influence of ordered monomer sequences on thermal and mechanical properties (e.g. tensile strength, rupture) of synthetic polymer materials will be examined in detail. The ultimate objective will be the development of precision polymer materials for the plastics industry.
