Protein‐like structure and activity in synthetic polymers

Abstract

The structure and activity of proteins is the gold standard for functional polymeric materials. This highlight seeks to calibrate the reader with respect to recent attempts to mimic the various structural and functional traits of proteins using the techniques of modern polymer chemistry. From advances in sequence-controlled polymers (primary structure), to peptidomimetics, foldamers, single-chain nanoparticles (secondary and tertiary structure), accessing the various structural aspects of protein chemistry is a vibrant research area. Likewise, the properties and utility of proteins in applications such as catalysis and molecular recognition are being emulated in the laboratory to great effect. Rather than provide an exhaustive review on any one of these topics, this article seeks to highlight the common thread among them, encouraging discussion and collaboration that will result in the next generation of smart materials with advanced structure and function.

Recent Progress in the Design of Monodisperse, Sequence-Defined Macromolecules

“…Therefore, very efficient approaches, for instance automated synthesis protocols, in combination with convergent strategies will be necessary in our opinion. Moreover, detailed structure‐property relationship studies along with studies of the three‐dimensional structure of the obtained polymers will give interesting insights into these highly defined materials . However, before such structure‐property relationship can unambiguously be established, the herein reported synthetic procedures have to be further developed, which will hopefully be achieved easier by the scientific community with the help of this review.…”

Quantitative preparation of multiblock glycopolymers bearing glycounits at the terminal segments by aqueous reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of acrylamide monomers

“…Development of controlled radical polymerization (CRP) techniques has enabled the preparation of well‐controlled polymers . The definition of synthetic polymer structures, for example, their monomer sequence and molecular weight, provides great advantages in exploring new materials . ATRP and RAFT polymerization have widely demonstrated the utility of CRP techniques and have been used for the preparation of synthetic polymers.…”

Phenanthroline—A Versatile Ligand for Advanced Functional Polymeric Materials

“…In combination with metal‐ions, which provide additional functionality, for example, catalytic or photophysical characteristics, highly sophisticated metallo‐polymeric architectures can be realized . For instance, upon coordination to a polymer chain, metal‐centers can function as structure forming elements, resulting in enzyme‐like, three‐dimensional folded nano‐reactors . They are accessible by the integration of suitable ligand functionalities into the precursor polymer chains, which enable multiple ligand to metal‐coordination.…”

“…[12][13][14] For instance, upon coordination to ap olymer chain, metal-centers can functiona ss tructure forming elements, resulting in enzyme-like,t hree-dimensionalf olded nano-reactors. [15][16][17] They are accessible by the integration of suitable ligand functionalities into the precursor polymer chains, which enablem ultiple ligandt om etal-coordination. Duet ot heir characteristics, nitrogenb ased ligandsa re ideal linker moieties for the construction of such advanced metallo-polymeric architectures.…”