The design and synthesis of functional biomimetic water soluble polymers with a defined secondary structure has been developed using beta-sheet polyisocyanopeptide scaffolds. Water soluble isocyanopolymers were prepared by random copolymerisation of the azido functionalized isocyanopeptides with nonfunctionalised methyl ester isocyanides derived from alanine. Upon saponification of the latter function a rigid rod water soluble polymer was obtained with an accessible azide for post-functionalization. The potential of these biomimetic polymers was successfully demonstrated by using the click chemistry reaction of these polymers with an acetylene functionalised rhodamine dye. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4150-4164, 2009