Controlled Synthesis of Polyhydroxyalkanoic (PHA) Nanostructures in R. eutropha

In biological systems the detailed structure of macromolecules is usually encoded genetically. Here we show that the synthesis and structure of certain biopolymers can be directed by taking control of the reaction pathways in microorganisms to direct the reaction kinetics. The biological synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) presents a unique opportunity to deposit synthesized polymer into controlled nanostructures with features as small as the molecular length scale. Furthermore, this control can be extended to the level of individual polymer molecules, enabling the synthesis of block copolymers that could be used in combination with self-assembly methods to generate specific structures.