<title>Biochemically designed polymers as self-organized materials</title>

Self assembled molecular systems are a focus of attention for material scientists as they provide an inherent molecular level organization responsible for enhanced material properties. We have developed polymeric molecular systems with interesting optical properties by biochemical engineering, which can be self assembled to thin films. Horseradish peroxidase catalyzed polymerizations of phenolic monomers: 9-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid, acid red and decyl ester (d&l isomers) of tyrosine, have been achieved in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The polymer of 8- hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid acts as a polymeric ligand that can be used for metal ion sensing. The polymer of acid red, with azo functional groups in the polymer backbone, shows interesting optical properties. Amphiphilic derivatives of tyrosine self assemble into tubules from micelles in aqueous solutions. These tubules have been enzymatically polymerized to polymeric tubules. The tubules are of 5 micrometers average diameter and > 200 micrometers length. The formation and properties of these tubules are discussed.