Controlled Synthesis and Properties of Poly(l-homoserine)

Abstract

We report the preparation of a new water-soluble, nonionic homopolypeptide poly(L-homoserine) as well as poly(Lhomoserine) block copolymers with controllable segment lengths. The conformational preferences of poly(L-homoserine) were also determined in both the solid state and in solution. Poly(Lhomoserine) is soluble in water and adopts a disordered conformation that makes it a promising addition to the small class of nonionic, water-soluble homopolypeptides with potential for development for applications in biology. Toward this goal, a poly(L-homoserine) containing a block copolypeptide was prepared and found to assemble into micro-and nanoscale vesicles in water.