We report the conformational and self-assembly behavior of two novel polymer-peptide triblock conjugates. These conjugates comprise a collagen like peptide (CLP) conjugated with poly(diethylene glycol ethylether methacrylate) (PDEGMEMA) or poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains at both termini. Circular dichroism (CD) experiments suggested the formation of triple helices in the peptide domain of the conjugates. Cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the morphology of self-assembled superstructures. Spherical structures were formed by PDEGMEMA-CLP conjugate at 37�C. The size of these spheres increased when heated up to 65�C and a morphology transition into fibrils was observed at 75�C.  As a negative control, the PEG-CLP-PEG triblock formed undefined structures that showed no temperature dependence. New CLPs with different sequences have also been synthesized to study collagen peptide assembly and for future conjugation purposes.

Self-assembly of polymer: Collagen like peptide conjugates

244th National Meeting (2012)

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