Issue 37, 2020

Pentafluorophenyl-based single-chain polymer nanoparticles as a versatile platform towards protein mimicry

Abstract

Proteins are biopolymers folded into 3D-structures and are omnipresent in biological systems, where they fulfil a wide array of complex functions. Mimicking the exceptional characteristics of proteins with synthetic analogues may likewise give unprecedented control over a nanomaterial's pharmacokinetic behaviour, enabling controlled delivery of therapeutics or imaging agents. Recent advances in polymer science have enabled the formation of bio-inspired single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs), which are formed by intramolecular collapse of individual polymer chains, and display sizes ranging from 5–20 nm. Here, we describe the preparation of SCNPs containing activated ester moieties, facilitating SCNP functionalization without altering its backbone structure. Pentafluorophenyl-functional SCNPs were prepared through intramolecular thiol-Michael addition crosslinking of thiol-functional precursor copolymers. Post-formation functionalization of the resulting SCNPs through substitution of the activated pentafluorophenyl esters with a variety of amines resulted in a series of water-soluble SCNPs with fluorescent labels, ‘click’ functionality, amino acids and even peptides. This synthetic strategy offers a straightforward method towards SCNP modification and SCNP-protein hybrids, giving access to easily adjustable physicochemical properties and protein mimicry.

Graphical abstract: Pentafluorophenyl-based single-chain polymer nanoparticles as a versatile platform towards protein mimicry

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Jun 2020
Accepted
08 Aug 2020
First published
26 Aug 2020
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Polym. Chem., 2020,11, 6056-6065

Pentafluorophenyl-based single-chain polymer nanoparticles as a versatile platform towards protein mimicry

A. P. P. Kröger, J. D. Paats, R. J. E. A. Boonen, N. M. Hamelmann and J. M. J. Paulusse, Polym. Chem., 2020, 11, 6056 DOI: 10.1039/D0PY00922A

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