title: Temperature-regulated activity of responsive polymer-protein conjugates prepared by grafting-from via RAFT polymerization.
abstract: A facile route to well-defined "smart" polymer-protein conjugates with tunable bioactivity is reported. Protein modification with a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent and subsequent room temperature polymerization in aqueous media led to conjugates of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and a model protein. Representing the first example of polymer-protein conjugation with RAFT agent immobilization via the "R-group" approach, high molecular weight and reductively stable conjugates were accessible without extensive purification or adverse effects on the protein structure. An increase in molecular weight with conversion was observed for the chains grafted from the protein surface, confirming the controlled nature of the polymerization. The responsive behavior of the immobilized polymer facilitated conjugate isolation and also allowed environmental modulation of bioactivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275-0314, USA.
authors.forename: Priyadarsi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sudershan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Gondi
authors.forename: Brent S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Sumerlin
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011506:Proteins; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide