Issue 1, 2021

Nano-assemblies with core-forming hydrophobic polypeptide via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to produce self-assembled structures with hydrophobic polypeptide cores via Reversible Addition–Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) – mediated Polymerisation-Induced Self-Assembly (PISA). Hydrophilic poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) macromolecular chain transfer agents (PGMA mCTAs) were used to polymerize the self-assembling peptide monomers, resulting in the formation of diblock copolymer nano objects. Methacrylamide derivatives containing self-assembling tripeptides MAm-GFF (MAm-Gly-Phe-Phe-NH2) and MAm-FGD (MAm-Phe-Gly-Asp-NH2) were used as hydrophobic monomers. The self-assembling behaviours of these monomers mainly derive from the interactions of the phenylalanine residues, however their difference in hydrophobicity required different polymerization conditions. MAm-GFF was polymerized in the presence of organic solvent (ethanol or acetonitrile), under either dispersion or emulsion polymerization, while MAm-FGD was polymerized under aqueous dispersion conditions. PGMA-b-P(MAm-FGD) obtained from aqueous PISA typically formed fibrous structures while a range of morphologies such as fibre-, flake-, and leaf-like or spherical vesicles were obtained for PGMA-b-P(MAm-GFF) depending on the copolymer composition and solvent used. In all cases the peptides self-assembling core had a crucial influence on the final morphologies.

Graphical abstract: Nano-assemblies with core-forming hydrophobic polypeptide via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA)

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
02 juin 2020
Accepted
18 août 2020
First published
24 août 2020

Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 113-121

Nano-assemblies with core-forming hydrophobic polypeptide via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA)

T. P. T. Dao, L. Vezenkov, G. Subra, V. Ladmiral and M. Semsarilar, Polym. Chem., 2021, 12, 113 DOI: 10.1039/D0PY00793E

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