title: "Bio"-macromolecules: polymer-protein conjugates as emerging scaffolds for therapeutics.
abstract: Polymer-protein conjugates are biohybrid macromolecules derived from covalently connecting synthetic polymers with polypeptides. The resulting materials combine the properties of both worlds: chemists can engineer polymers to stabilize proteins, to add functionality, or to enhance activity; whereas biochemists can exploit the specificity and complexity that Nature has bestowed upon its macromolecules. This has led to a wealth of applications, particularly within the realm of biomedicine. Polymer-protein conjugation has expanded to include scaffolds for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and microbial inhibitors. This feature article reflects upon recent developments in the field and discusses the applications of these hybrids from a biomaterials standpoint.
authors: Molecular Design Institute and Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Sq. E., New York, New York, 10003, USA.
authors: Dorothee E
authors: DE
authors: Borchmann
authors: Tom P
authors: TP
authors: Carberry
authors: Marcus
authors: M
authors: Weck
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011108:Polymers; D011506:Proteins
keywords: bioengineering; biological applications of polymers; biomaterials; poly(ethylene glycol); proteins