Tuning Net Charge in Aliphatic Polycarbonates Alters Solubility and Protein Complexation Behavior.

ABSTRACT: A synthetic strategy yielded polyelectrolytes and polyampholytes with tunable net charge for complexation and protein binding. Organocatalytic ring-opening polymerizations yielded aliphatic polycarbonates that were functionalized with both carboxylate and ammonium side chains in a post-polymerization, radical-mediated thiol-ene reaction. Incorporating net charge into the polymer architecture altered the chain dimensions in phosphate buffered solution in a manner consistent with self-complexation and complexation behavior with model proteins. A net cationic polyampholyte with 5% of carboxylate side chains formed large clusters rather than small complexes with bovine serum albumin, while 50% carboxylate polyampholyte was insoluble. Overall, the aliphatic polycarbonates with varying net charg

SUBMITTER: Posey ND 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8427630 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature