Stimuli‐Sensitive Synthetic Polypeptide‐Based Materials for Drug and Gene Delivery

Abstract

Stimuli‐sensitive synthetic polypeptides are unique biodegradable and biocompatible synthetic polymers with structures mimicking natural proteins. These polymers exhibit reversible secondary conformation transitions and/or hydrophilic–hydrophobic transitions in response to changes in environmental conditions such as pH and temperature. The stimuli‐triggered conformation and/or phase transitions lead to unique self‐assembly behaviors, making these materials interesting for controlled drug and gene delivery applications. Therefore, stimuli‐sensitive synthetic polypeptide‐based materials have been extensively investigatid in recent years. Various polypeptide‐based materials, including micelles, vesicles, nanogels, and hydrogels, have been developed and tested for drug‐ and gene‐delivery applications. In addition, the presence of reactive side groups in some polypeptides facilitates the incorporation of various functional moieties to the polypeptides. This Review focuses on recent advances in stimuli‐sensitive polypeptide‐based materials that have been designed and evaluated for drug and gene delivery applications. In addition, recent developments in the preparation of stimuli‐sensitive functionalized polypeptides are discussed.

Stimuli‐responsive polypeptide materials prepared by ring‐opening polymerization of α‐amino acid N‐carboxyanhydrides

“…[1][2][3][4] In contrast to conventional polymers, stimuli-responsive biodegradable polymers are greatly desirable for biomedical applications considering the advantages of their biodegradability and biocompatibility. [5][6][7] There have been extensive efforts to construct biodegradable stimuli-responsive polymers. Several systems based on degradable polyesters, [8][9][10] poly(amino ester)s, [11][12][13] poly(organo phosphazenes), 14 and poly(amino acid)s have been investigated.…”

Co‐Delivery of Drugs and Genes Using Polymeric Nanoparticles for Synergistic Cancer Therapeutic Effects

“…Compared with conventional synthetic polymers, polypeptides form stable secondary structures, such as α-helix and β-sheet, due to hydrogen bonding. [90] Polypeptides are synthesized by ROP of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides using primary amine as an initiator. The molecular weight of the synthesized polypeptides can be precisely tuned by controlling the molar ratio of monomer/initiator.…”

Synthesis and Characterization of Star-Shaped Porphyrin-cored Poly(Glutamic Acid) Conjugates as Highly Efficient Photosensitizers

“…Therefore, a convenient measurement of pH value (like fluorescence) is an issue worth of research. Recently, synthetic polypeptide or protein hybrid copolymers [14] have received much attention as most of polypeptide have stimuliresponsive property and abundant group for readily further modification. Also, the former experimental evidence have showed that the conformational structure of polypeptide (-helix and -sheet) will control the morphology and size of self-assembled nanoparticles [15].…”