In this work, N-carboxy anhydride (NCA) monomer molecules were polymerized on the pore walls of an initiator coated nanoporous alumina template, leading to the formation of polypeptide poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate), known as PBLG nanorods. The structure and the associated dynamics have been investigated for a series of PBLG using DSC, XRD, FTIR, and dielectric spectroscopy (DS), respectively. High molecular weight bulk PBLG exhibits a glass transition temperature (T_g) at about 286 K and a broad endothermic peak at around 333-353 K during the first heating run. The dynamic investigation by DS revealed a glass temperature at about 281±2 K for the PBLG nanorods, i.e., slightly lower than the bulk T_g. Studies as a function of pore size are in progress. In addition, DS revealed a local process below T_g, associated with the localized fluctuations of the side-group and a slower process associated with the relaxation of the secondary structure. The intensity of this mode suggested "broken" helices. An "ultra slow" process was also detected that arises from the inhomogeneous medium (Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars polarization). The structural characterization of the pure PBLG showed a strong peak of the lyotropic liquid crystalline phase at 2θ= 6.7°. This reflection corresponds to an intermolecular spacing of alpha-helical chains with a spacing of 13.2 Å. XRD patterns of PBLG nanorods had only one- albeit very broad- reflection at 2θ=6.5°. The broader reflection and the absence of higher order reflections are in agreement with the DS study revealing broken helices.

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