Multifunctional polypeptide-PEO nanoreactors via the hydrophobic switch.
We prepare various protein-derived amphiphilic polymers. By modifying the polypeptide backbone with a few (5-8) hydrophilic or lipophilic substituents, we are able to switch the hydrophobicity of the polymer and control the formation of stable nano-sized micelles. In the hydrophobic interior of these micelles, ethynyl groups are introduced to provide a nanoreactor environment for click reactions with lipophilic cargo molecules, such as 3-azidocoumarin, a hydrophobic fluorophore, and the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin. These protein-derived amphiphilic polymers reported herein offer a promising potential to design a delivery platform for biomedical applications.
Institute of Organic Chemistry III/Macromolecular Chemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89073 Ulm, Germany.
Yuzhou
Y
Wu
Tao
T
Wang
David Y W
DY
Ng
Tanja
T
Weil
D000480:Alkynes / Q000737:chemistry; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D057930:Click Chemistry; D003374:Coumarins / Q000737:chemistry; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008823:Micelles; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*
D000480:Alkynes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003374:Coumarins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008823:Micelles; D010455:Peptides; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004317:Doxorubicin; C030123:coumarin