Poly(sarcosine)-Based Nano-Objects with Multi-Protease Resistance by Aqueous Photoinitiated Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly (Photo-PISA). Biomacromolecules 2018 Nov 12;19(11):4453-4462
Date
10/24/2018Pubmed ID
30351914DOI
10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01326Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85056329290 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 42 CitationsAbstract
Poly(sarcosine) (PSar) is a non-ionic hydrophilic polypeptoid with numerous biologically relevant properties, making it an appealing candidate for the development of amphiphilic block copolymer nanostructures. In this work, the fabrication of poly(sarcosine)-based diblock copolymer nano-objects with various morphologies via aqueous reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT)-mediated photoinitiated polymerization-induced self-assembly (photo-PISA) is reported. Poly(sarcosine) was first synthesized via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of sarcosine N-carboxyanhydride, using high-vacuum techniques. A small molecule chain transfer agent (CTA) was then coupled to the active ω-amino chain end of the telechelic polymer for the synthesis of a poly(sarcosine)-based macro-CTA. Controlled chain-extensions of a commercially available water-miscible methacrylate monomer (2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate) were achieved via photo-PISA under mild reaction conditions, using PSar macro-CTA. Upon varying the degree of polymerization and concentration of the core-forming monomer, morphologies evolving from spherical micelles to worm-like micelles and vesicles were accessed, as determined by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, resulting in the construction of a detailed phase diagram. The resistance of both colloidally stable empty vesicles and enzyme-loaded nanoreactors against degradation by a series of proteases was finally assessed. Overall, our findings underline the potential of poly(sarcosine) as an alternative corona-forming polymer to poly(ethylene glycol)-based analogues of PISA assemblies for use in various pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.
Author List
Varlas S, Georgiou PG, Bilalis P, Jones JR, Hadjichristidis N, O'Reilly RKAuthor
Test W. User test user title in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Chemistry Techniques, SyntheticHorseradish Peroxidase
Nanostructures
Peptide Hydrolases
Photochemical Processes
Polymerization
Polymers
Sarcosine
Surface Properties
Water