The success of synthesizing well-defined PEGylated poly(amino acids) depends heavily on the addition of the first few amino acid repeat units onto PEG in the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of amino acid N-carboxyanhydride (NCA). This study concentrates on the secondary structure formation (beta-sheets) within oligomers with 5 to 20 repeat units when polymerized in ROP's from the respective amino acid NCAs.  It has been shown by using N-hexylamine to initiate the polymerization of a-amino acid NCAs, that the use of urea can limit the formation of �-sheet secondary structure in amino acid oligomers that are known to adopt strictly a �-sheet structure.  Hence, the kinetics of the polymerization will be better controlled thus, promoting living polymerization conditions for the ROP of amino acid NCAs.  The method demonstrated the differences exhibited by amino acid short oligomers and the effect of urea on �-sheet formation.

Investigation of the secondary structure of oligomeric poly(aminom acid)s

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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