Abstract
Direct measurement of surface forces was employed to study interactions between brush layers of poly(methacrylic acid) or poly(L-glutamic acid). The polyelectrolyte layers were prepared on mica by depositing LB (Langmuir-Blodgett) films of amphiphiles functionalized at their head groups with poly(methacrylic acid) or poly(L-glutamic acid). The force profiles of poly(methacrylic acid) layers were discussed in terms of ionization of the carboxylic acid group, neutralization of polymer charges by counterions, helix-hypercoiled transition of the polymers, and bridging of polymer charges by divalent counterions. A probable structural model of the polyelectrolyte layer was proposed. In poly(L-glutamic acid) layers, the polypeptides form the secondary structures such as α-helix and β-sheet through intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Force profiles between the peptide layers reflect these conformational differences.
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