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Amphiphilic Nucleobase-Containing Polypeptide Copolymers-Synthesis and Self-Assembly.

ABSTRACT: Nucleobase-containing polymers are an emerging class of building blocks for the self-assembly of nanoobjects with promising applications in nanomedicine and biology. Here we present a macromolecular engineering approach to design nucleobase-containing polypeptide polymers incorporating thymine that further self-assemble in nanomaterials. Diblock and triblock copolypeptide polymers were prepared using sequential ring-opening polymerization of γ-Benzyl-l-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (BLG-NCA) and γ-Propargyl-l-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (PLG-NCA), followed by an efficient copper(I)-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAc) functionalization with thymidine monophosphate. Resulting amphiphilic copolymers were able to spontaneously form nanoobjects in aqueous solutions avoiding a pre-solubilization step with an organic solvent. Upon self-assembly, light scattering measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the impact of the architecture (diblock versus triblock) on the morphology of the resulted nanoassemblies. Interestingly, the nucleobase-containing nanoobjects displayed free thymine units in the shell that were found available for further DNA-binding.

SUBMITTER: Nguyen M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7362222 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Amphiphilic Nucleobase-Containing Polypeptide Copolymers-Synthesis and Self-Assembly.

Nguyen Michel M Ferji Khalid K Lecommandoux Sébastien S Bonduelle Colin C

Polymers 20200616 6

Nucleobase-containing polymers are an emerging class of building blocks for the self-assembly of nanoobjects with promising applications in nanomedicine and biology. Here we present a macromolecular engineering approach to design nucleobase-containing polypeptide polymers incorporating thymine that further self-assemble in nanomaterials. Diblock and triblock copolypeptide polymers were prepared using sequential ring-opening polymerization of γ-Benzyl-l-glutamate <i>N</i>-carboxyanhydride (BLG-NC ...[more]

PMID: 32560277

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Dataset Information

Amphiphilic Nucleobase-Containing Polypeptide Copolymers-Synthesis and Self-Assembly.

Publications

Amphiphilic Nucleobase-Containing Polypeptide Copolymers-Synthesis and Self-Assembly.

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