Synthetic polypeptides: from polymer design to supramolecular assembly and biomedical application

Abstract

Synthetic polypeptides from the ring-opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) are one of the most important biomaterials. The unique features of these synthetic polypeptides, including their chemical diversity of side chains and their ability to form secondary structures, enable their broad applications in the field of gene delivery, drug delivery, bio-imaging, tissue engineering, and antimicrobials. In this review article, we summarize the recent advances in the design of polypeptide-based supramolecular structures, including complexes with nucleic acids, micelles, vesicles, hybrid nanoparticles, and hydrogels. We also highlight the progress in the chemical design of functional polypeptides, which plays a crucial role to manipulate their assembly behaviours and optimize their biomedical performances. Finally, we conclude the review by discussing the future opportunities in this field, including further studies on the secondary structures and cost-effective synthesis of polypeptide materials.

Aqueous Ring‐Opening Polymerization‐Induced Self‐Assembly (ROPISA) of N‐Carboxyanhydrides

“…To improve the synthesis conditions, recent efforts are focused on promoting the polymerization rate without the use of a catalyst, exploring new more reactive initiators, and using specific processes including emulsion polymerization approaches . For example, Wooley et al.…”

Synthesis and Self‐assembly of a Helical Polymer Grafted from a Foldable Polyurethane Scaffold

“…In a related area, helical polymers derived from naturally occurring amino acids have been extensively studied and explored for biological applications due to their excellent biocompatibility, versatile structures and biodegradability to non‐toxic products in vivo . Moreover, they possess unique hierarchical assembly properties which can be tailor‐made for biomedical applications such as controlled drug release, gene delivery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine .…”

Synthesis of Novel bis‐Triazolinedione Crosslinked Amphiphilic Polypept(o)ide Nanostructures

“…Owing to their wide range of inherent functionality, hydrolytic stability, biodegradability, low toxicity, and control over secondary structures, polypeptide‐based materials have been increasingly exploited in areas such as tissue engineering, gene delivery, controlled drug release etc . Since the late 1940s, the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of N ‐carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) derived from α‐amino acids has offered the most facile synthetic approach in producing synthetic polypeptides with controlled molecular weights and low polydispersities .…”