Abstract
Polypeptides and polypeptoids were widely used as biomedical materials because of their good biocompatibility. In this work we reported a series of pH-responsive copolypeptides and polypeptide-polypeptoid block copolymers, i.e. random copolymers of L-glutamic acid (Glu) with L-leucine (Leu) [poly(Glu-r-Leu)s], as well as their block copolymers with polysarcosine (polySar). Well-defined poly(Glu-r-Leu)s with predictable compositions and molecular weights were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of corresponding N-carboxyanhydride monomers. We investigated the relationship between hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity transition and copolymer composition. With increasing Leu fraction, both the pH value of cloud point and the micellar size increased. Poly(Glu-r-Leu) with 60% Leu exhibited a cloud point at the pH of 5.0 to 6.0 the same as that in endosome and lysosome. Poly(Glu-r-Leu)-b-polySars assembled in phosphate buffer and performed pH-responsive morphology change from orbicular micelles at high pH to worm-like micelles at low pH. They were potential pH-responsive carriers for drug and gene delivery to enhance cargo release in cellules.
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This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21174122 and 51390481).
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Tian, C., Ling, J. & Shen, Yq. Self-assembly and pH-responsive properties of poly(L-glutamic acid-r-L-leucine) and poly(L-glutamic acid-r-L-leucine)-b-polysarcosine. Chin J Polym Sci 33, 1186–1195 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-015-1669-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-015-1669-0