Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of a diblock polypeptide composed of poly(ethylene oxide-<i>b</i>-lysine), where the lysine block has been modified with an electron withdrawing group. The ε-amine of the lysine is modified utilizing a monomer modification approach prior to polymerization. We hypothesize that modifying the lysine monomer with an electron withdrawing group will tune the pK<sub>a </sub>of the resultant poly(lysine) block from pH 9 to a more biorelevant region (pH ~ 6-7). Incorporation into a diblock copolymer will imbue the system with enhanced functionality and pH responsiveness, where conformation changes in the lysine secondary structure may result in overall assembly morphology transitions. These copolymer systems can be utilized in areas such as drug delivery, whereby modified pH-responsive blocks can be incorporated into delivery vehicles where cargo can be spontaneously released upon pH driven morphology transitions.

Tuning the pKa of poly(lysine): Enhancing stimuli-responsiveness of peptide block copolymers

2019 Spring National Meeting

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