Synthesis and Self-Assembly Behavior of Poly(acrylic Acid)-b-Poly(l-Amino Acid) System
Author(s)
Sinaga, Akasta
Ravi, P.
Hatton, T. Alan
Tam, Michael K. C.
Date Issued
January 2007
Series/Report no.
Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering (CPE)
Abstract
The talk will present the synthesis and characterization of a new class of hybrid amphiphilic system between an electrolyte polyacrylic acid (PAA) synthetic segment, and a hydrophobic beta-sheet forming peptide segment, poly(L-valine) (PLVAL). The synthesis of monodispersed copolymers (Mw/Mn < 1.3) was achieved through a combination of atom transfer radical polymerization, click chemistry, and nickel-catalyzed ring opening of N-carboxy anhydrides. The click chemistry is demonstrated to be an excellent method for the intermediate -amino functionalization step to afford macroinitiators that are free from deactivating or interfering molecules with degree of functionality about 90%. Light scattering and circular dichroism characterization of PAAx-block-PLVALy (x-y of 80-100, 80-80, 80-60, and 40-100) show a correlation of the formation of spherical core-shell micelles to the ability of the peptide segment to form ordered beta-sheet structures. Generally, the beta sheet formation is stabilized by a low pH condition (low charge on PAA), higher Val/PAA ratio (less interference from PAA-Val hydrogen bondings), and degree of core shielding by PAA in the presence of disrupting agents, e.g. urea. At higher pH, the beta-sheet structure was also found to counteract the charge repulsions of PAA units, which allows the micelles to retain their overall size and shape.
Subjects
Peptide Hybrid Block Copolymers
Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP)
Ring Opening Polymerization
Self-Assembly
Persistent DSpace Link
