Polypept(o)ides have been introduced by our group as copolymers combining polypeptides with polypeptoids. They can be synthesized by sequential ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of α-amino acid-N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA). Whenever the polymerization itself is performed under controlled conditions, precise control over chain length, narrow molecular weight distributions (PDI&lt;1.2) and high end group integrities can be achieved (see figure 1). Although NCA polymerization does not allow control over the primary structure of amino acids, it enables the production of polypeptides, polypeptoids and polypept(o)ide block copolymers in gram to kilogram scale and grants adjustment of chain length, architecture, solubility, functionality, and immunogenic properties. Most importantly, the incorporation of functionalities beyond nature’s possibilities can be accomplished. In most cases, we use polysarcosine (poly((N-methyl)glycine)) as a non-ionic, non-immunogenic and hydrophilic polymer ("stealth"-like) in combination with polypeptides based functional α-amino acids, since amino acids can both be easily transformed into the corresponding NCA by the Fuchs-Farthing method, provide multiple functional groups, and allow copolymerization as well as block copolymer synthesis. In addition, the initiator's valency enables control over the position of functional groups within block copolymers, introduces branching points and thus allows for the adjustment of material properties by bottom up-synthesis (see figure 1). Here we demonstrate how one can tailor polymer properties to yield functional materials for various applications ranging from tissue engineering, drug or gene delivery, diagnostic tools or functional coatings for organic or inorganic surfaces.

Polypept(o)ides: A novel class of biocompatible polymers based on endogenous amino acids

255th National Meeting (2018)

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