title: One-step advanced preparation of surface-functional peptide nanospheres by the polymerization of L-phenylalanine N-carboxyanhydride with dual initiators.
abstract: Surface-grafted peptide nanospheres consisting of hydrophobic poly(L-phenylalanine) with hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafts were successfully prepared by the one-step polymerization of L-phenylalanine N-carboxyanhydride with the dual initiators of hydrophobic n-butylamine and hydrophilic NH2-monoterminated PEG (NH2-PEG). The monodispersed peptide nanospheres were stably self-assembled during polymerization in a mixture of water/dimethyl sulfoxide to create a colloidal solution, but only aggregated in water or organic solvents. When n-butylamine or NH2-PEG was used as a solitary initiator, the peptide nanospheres were not formed. The peptide nanospheres showed high dispersion-stability in water, and their diameter was approximately 300 nm. Furthermore, the peptide nanospheres were well-redispersed in water, retaining the same diameter and monodispersity even after lyophilization. Peptide nanospheres with the functional carboxylic acid on their graft layer were also successfully prepared by the one-step preparation method. This one-step preparation method of surface-grafted peptide nanospheres will be useful as an advanced technology to develop biodegradable functional nanospheres.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Michiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsusaki
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Waku
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kida
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akashi
mesh_terms: D002082:Butylamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002082:Butylamines; D010455:Peptides; C012001:polyphenylalanine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C032462:n-butylamine