title: Well-Defined Protein/Peptide-Polymer Conjugates by Aqueous Cu-LRP: Synthesis and Controlled Self-Assembly.
abstract: The synthesis of well-defined protein/peptide-polymer conjugates with interesting self-assembly behavior via single electron transfer living radical polymerization in water is described. A range of protein/peptides with different physical and chemical properties have been modified to macroinitiators and optimized polymerization conditions ensure successful polymerization from soluble, insoluble, and dispersed protein/peptide molecules or protein aggregates. This powerful strategy tolerates a range of functional monomers and mediates efficient homo or block copolymerization to generate hydrophilic polymers with controlled molecular weight (MW) and narrow MW distribution. The polymerizations from bovine insulin macroinitiators follow surface-initiated "grafting from" polymerization mechanism and may involve a series of self-assembly and disassembly processes. Synthesized insulin-polymer conjugates form spheres in water, and the self-assembly behavior could be controlled via thermal control, carbohydrate-protein interaction, and protein denaturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Muxiu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chongyu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gabit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nurumbetov
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Zaidong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kempe
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Haddleton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001965:Bromides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D004579:Electron Transport; D007328:Insulin / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008970:Molecular Weight; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011489:Protein Denaturation / Q000187:drug effects; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D012995:Solubility; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001965:Bromides; D007328:Insulin; D011108:Polymers; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D014867:Water; D003300:Copper; C027938:sodium bromide