The conjugation of peptides/proteins and synthetic polymers is a useful strategy to overcome some of the limitations related to the use of the individual components. This review will highlight two aspects: enhanced structural control at the nanometer level and improved performance, in particular with respect to biomedical applications. In the former case, peptide sequences are mainly used to mediate self-assembly of synthetic polymers. In the latter case, conjugation of an appropriate synthetic polymer to a pharmaceutically active peptide/protein can, for example, prevent premature enzymatic degradation and enhance blood circulation times, which is therapeutically advantageous.
This paper describes the synthesis and supramolecular organization of two novel hybrid
diblock copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and peptide sequences inspired by the coiled
coil protein folding motif. The self-organization of the diblock copolymers is driven by the tendency of the
peptide segments to form well-defined tertiary structures. In contrast to conventional amphiphilic block
copolymers, whose self-organization is driven by unspecific hydrophobic interactions and leads to
polydisperse aggregates, it was anticipated that this approach could allow precise control over the
aggregation number in aqueous solution. Circular dichroism and analytical ultracentrifugation experiments indicated that the self-organization properties of the peptide segments are retained upon conjugation
of PEG, and discrete, well-defined supramolecular aggregates are formed. No evidence was found for
unspecific self-organization of the diblock copolymers to large polydisperse structures, as it is the case
for conventional amphiphilic block copolymers. In contrast, the self-organization of the PEG-b-peptide
diblock copolymers is described as an equilibrium between unimeric block copolymer molecules and dimeric
and tetrameric coiled coil aggregates. The relative amounts of these species depend on concentration,
temperature, solvent, and the molecular weight of the PEG block.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.