We report the synthesis of polysarcosine-block-polyglutamic acid benzylester (PSar-block-PGlu(OBn)) and polysarcosine-block-polylysine-ε-N-benzyloxycarbonyl (PSar-block-PLys(Z)) copolymers. The novel polypeptoid-block-polypeptide copolymers (Copolypept(o)ides) have been synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs). Polymerization conditions were optimized regarding protecting groups, block sequence and length. While the degree of polymerization of the PSar block length was set to be around 200 or 400, PGlu(OBn) and PLys(Z) block lengths were varied between 20 to 75. The obtained block copolymers had a total degree of polymerization of 220-475 and dispersity indices between 1.1 and 1.2. Having ensured a nontoxic behavior up to a concentration of 3 mg/mL in HEK293 cells, the novel block copolymers have been applied to the synthesis of organic colloids (by miniemulsion polymerization and miniemulsion solvent evaporation process). Colloids of around 100 nm (miniemulsion polymerization) to 200 nm (miniemulsion process) have been prepared. Additionally, PSar-block-PGlu(OBn) copolymers have been used in a drug formulation of an adenylate cyclase inhibitor. Micelles of 28.0 nm (without drug) and 33.0 nm (with drug) diameter have been observed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). The polypeptoid-block-polypeptide formulation increased solubility of the drug and enhances its bioavailability, which leads to a reduction of intracellular cAMP levels in MaMel 91 melanoma cells.

Two series (degree of polymerization: 20–200) of polylysines with Z and TFA protecting groups were synthesized, and their behavior in a range of analytical methods was investigated. Gel permeation chromatography of the smaller polypeptides reveals a bimodal distribution, which is lost in larger polymers. With the help of GPC, NMR, circular dichroism (CD), and MALDI-TOF, it was demonstrated that the bimodal distribution is not due to terminated chains or other side reactions. Our results indicate that the bimodality is caused by a change in secondary structure of the growing peptide chain that occurs around a degree of polymerization of about 15. This change in secondary structure interferes strongly with the most used analysis method for polymersGPCby producing a bimodal distribution as an artifact. After deprotection, the polypeptides were found to exhibit exclusively random coil conformation, and thus a monomodal GPC elugram was obtained. The effect can be explained by a 1.6-fold increase in the hydrodynamic volume at the coil–helix transition. This work demostrates that secondary structures need to be carefully considered when performing standard analysis on polypeptidic systems.

Achieving precise control over the morphology and function of polymeric nanostructures during self-assembly remains a challenge in materials as well as biomedical science, especially when independent control over particle properties is desired. Herein, we report on nanostructures derived from amphiphilic block copolypept(o)ides by secondary-structure-directed self-assembly, presenting a strategy to adjust core polarity and function separately from particle preparation in a bioreversible manner. The peptide-inherent process of secondary-structure formation allows for the synthesis of spherical and worm-like core-cross-linked architectures from the same block copolymer, introducing a simple yet powerful approach to versatile peptide-based core-shell nanostructures.

The amino acid cysteine possesses a unique role in nature due to its ability to reversibly cross-link proteins. To transfer this feature to polypeptides and control the process of disulfide formation, a protective group needs to provide stability against amines during synthesis, combined with chemoselective reactivity toward thiols. A protective group providing these unique balance of stability and reactivity toward different nucleophiles is the S-alkylsulfonyl group. In this work we report the polymerization of S-ethylsulfonyl-l-cysteine N-carboxyanhydride and kinetic evaluations with respect to temperature (−10, 0, and +10 °C) and monomer concentration. The polymerization degree of poly­(S-ethylsulfonyl-l-cysteines) can be controlled within a range of 10–30, yielding well-defined polymers with molecular weights of 6900–12 300 g/mol with dispersity indices of 1.12–1.19 as determined by GPC and MALDI–TOF analysis. The limitation of chain length is, however, not related to side reactions during ring-opening polymerization, but to physical termination during β-sheet assembly. In the case of poly­(S-ethylsulfonyl-l-cysteines), circular dichroism as well as FT-IR experiments confirm an antiparallel β-sheet conformation. The reaction of poly­(S-ethylsulfonyl-l-cysteines) with thiols is completed in less than a minute, leading quantitatively to asymmetric disulfide bond formation in the absence of side reactions. Therefore, poly­(S-ethylsulfonyl cysteines) are currently the only reactive cysteine derivative applicable to NCA synthesis and polymerization, which allows efficient and chemoselective disulfide formation in synthetic polypeptides, bypassing additional protective group cleavage steps.

The ability to reversibly cross-link proteins and peptides grants the amino acid cysteine its unique role in nature as well as in peptide chemistry. We report a novel class of S-alkylsulfonyl-l-cysteines and N-carboxy anhydrides (NCA) thereof for peptide synthesis. The S-alkylsulfonyl group is stable against amines and thus enables its use under Fmoc chemistry conditions and the controlled polymerization of the corresponding NCAs yielding well-defined homo- as well as block co-polymers. Yet, thiols react immediately with the S-alkylsulfonyl group forming asymmetric disulfides. Therefore, we introduce the first reactive cysteine derivative for efficient and chemoselective disulfide formation in synthetic polypeptides, thus bypassing additional protective group cleavage steps.