Crosslinked Polypeptide Films via RAFT-Mediated Continuous Assembly of Polymers

Titelangaben

Chan, Nicholas J. ; Lentz, Sarah ; Gurr, Paul A. ; Tan, Shereen ; Scheibel, Thomas ; Qiao, Greg G.:
Crosslinked Polypeptide Films via RAFT-Mediated Continuous Assembly of Polymers.
In: Angewandte Chemie International Edition. Bd. 61 (2022) Heft 9 . - e202112842.
ISSN 1521-3773
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202112842

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Abstract

Polypeptide coatings are a cornerstone in the field
of surface modification due to their widespread biological
potential. As their properties are dictated by their structural
features, subsequent control thereof using unique fabrication
strategies is important. Herein, we report a facile method of
precisely creating densely crosslinked polypeptide films with
unusually high random coil content through continuous
assembly polymerization via reversible addition–fragmenta-
tion chain transfer (CAP-RAFT). CAP-RAFT was funda-
mentally investigated using methacrylated poly-L-lysine
(PLLMA) and methacrylated poly-L-glutamic acid
(PLGMA). Careful technique refinement resulted in films up
to 36.1±1.1 nm thick which could be increased to 94.9±8.2 nm after using this strategy multiple times. PLLMA and
PLGMA films were found to have 30–50 % random coil
conformations. Degradation by enzymes present during
wound healing reveals potential for applications in drug
delivery and tissue engineering.