Swine influenza virus [SIV] is the second most economically significant pathogen of swine. Despite decades of research, developing vaccines that can produce robust and broad protection against the many strains of influenza viruses is a challenge. Polymer-conjugated proteins and peptides as vaccines are a rapidly expanding area of research, due to the discovery of new proteins/peptides and a better understanding of the mechanism(s) of their actions in vivo. Synthesized in our group two polymer types, pseudo poly(amino acids) (PSAA) and amphiphilic invertible polymers (AIPs) are employed for complexation with peptides. PSAA are polymers with the confirmed ability to entrap a variety of potential antigens. Selected PSAA was synthesized from poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, 300 g/mol), N-lauroyl-glutamic acid and glutamic acid to yield PEG:Glu(Boc):Glu(Lauryl) – 1.14 : 0.77 : 0.23 composition. It was expected that by self-assembling of AIPs, the micellar invertible assemblies become capable of peptide complexation. Selected AIP D10 was synthesized from poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, molecular weight 1000) and dodecanedioic acid. Both synthesized polymers were characterized using 1H NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, GPC, acid-base titration methods, zeta-potential and cytotoxicity measurements. The polymer ability to form complexes with peptides was tested using HA and V5 peptides. Using gel electrophoresis it was demonstrated that the formation of complexes is determined by polymer-peptide ratio and the stability of polymer-peptide complexes varies depending on the pH value and polymer concentration.

New amphiphilic polymers for peptide complexation

251st National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.