In vitro enzymatic degradation of nanoparticles prepared from hydrophobically-modified poly(gamma-glutamic acid).
Amphiphilic poly(gamma-glutamic acid) (gamma-PGA) was prepared by the introduction of L-phenylalanine ethylester (L-PAE) as a side chain. This gamma-PGA-graft-L-PAE formed monodispersed nanoparticles in water. The particle size of the gamma-PGA nanoparticles could be controlled by the degree of L-PAE grafting. The hydrolytic degradation and enzymatic degradation by gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) of these gamma-PGA nanoparticles was studied by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hydrolysis ratio of gamma-PGA was found to decrease upon increasing the hydrophilicity of the gamma-PGA. The degradation of the gamma-PGA backbone by gamma-GTP resulted in a dramatic change in nanoparticle morphology. With increasing time, the gamma-PGA nanoparticles reduced in size and finally disappeared completely.Time-course of the changes in the morphology of the gamma-PGA nanoparticles following incubation with gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.
Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Japan.
Takami
T
Akagi
Mariko
M
Higashi
Tatsuo
T
Kaneko
Toshiyuki
T
Kida
Mitsuru
M
Akashi
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000737:chemistry*
C505757:L-phenylalanine ethylester; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D010649:Phenylalanine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase