Biomacromolecules, Vol.12, No.3, 737-746, 2011
Chemosynthesis of Poly(epsilon-lysine)-Analogous Polymers by Microwave-Assisted Click Polymerization
Poly(epsilon-lysine) (epsilon-PL)-analogous click polypeptides with not only similar alpha-amino side groups but also similar main chain to epsilon-PL were chemically synthesized for the first time though click polymerization from aspartic (or glutamic)-acid-based dialkyne and diazide monomers. With microwave-assisting, the reaction time of click polymerization was compressed into 30 min. The polymers were fully characterized by NMR, ATR-FTIR, and SEC-MALLS analysis. The deprotected click polypeptides had similar pK(a) value (7.5) and relatively low cytotoxicity as epsilon-PL and could be used as substitutes of epsilon-PL in biomedical applications, especially in endotoxin selective removal. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-containing alternating copolymers with a-amino groups were also synthesized and characterized. After deprotection, the polymers could be used as functional gene vector with PEG shadowing system and NCA initiator to get amphiphilic graft polymers.