title: pH-responsive, self-assembling nanoparticle from a fullerene-tagged poly(L-glutamic acid) and its superoxide dismutase mimetic property.
abstract: In this study, we describe the fabrication of novel fullerene-containing peptide-nanoparticles through self-assembly. A water-soluble, poly(l-glutamic acid)-attached fullerene was newly synthesized and the conformation and self-assembling property in water were examined by using circular dichroism, FTIR, UV, atomic force microscopy, and dynamic light scattering measurements. In the lower pH region (<6.8), the fullerene peptide self-assembles into nanoparticles that are ca. 100-200 nm in diameter. These nanoparticles are rich in alpha-helices, and stacking interaction of fullerene moieties contributes to the stability of the high-order structure. In addition, these particle sizes can be easily controlled by changing pH that results in causing the conformational transition of PLGA segment. Finally, the fullerene-containing nanoparticle is confirmed to be capable of removing the biologically important superoxide radical in comparison with the superoxide dismutase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science & Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0321, Japan. nhigashi@mail.doshisha.ac.jp
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shosu
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Masazo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niwa
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanigawa