Real-time dynamics of linear assemblies

The linear stacking of molecules is the simplest and purest form of structural aggregation and is present in all life around us. Nature presented us with a wide variety of effective ways to benefit from linear assemblies, think of DNA strands or protein filaments, which inspired design of linear polymers for technical or biological applications. Yet while we’ve long known what these structures look like, their behaviour in motion has remained largely invisible. In his thesis, Chris van Ewijk uses High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy (HS-AFM), a cutting-edge technique that captures live footage of single molecules in action, to unlock the secrets behind these microscopic assemblies.

The findings offer valuable insights with broader relevance. For example, light-triggered polymers were shown to disassemble gradually from their ends, revealing a cooperative, stepwise process that could inspire more controlled, energy-efficient designs in responsive materials. Real-time imaging of proteins related to Huntington’s disease captured how toxic structures develop at the molecular level, revealing crucial details about how the disease progresses. Finally, Van Ewijk explores how self-replicating molecules grow and how their direction and efficiency are determined by their "handedness" or chirality. Homochiral molecules (all "left" or all "right" handed) grow faster and more efficiently than mixed ones, suggesting a reason why nature may have favored one form over the other.

By making these molecular processes visible, Van Ewijk's research shows how HS-AFM can help bridge the gap between structure and function. It opens new possibilities in biomedical research, materials science, and nanotechnology.

Dissertation: https://hdl.handle.net/11370/9fcbd6d5-d773-4738-8324-0657f69e3c69