Preparation and solution properties of helical sulfonium-based polypeptides and their polyelectrolyte complexes. (15th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Fei; Xue, Ruizhong; Yang, Fangping; Liu, Hao; Zhang, Xu; Luan, Shifang; Tang, Haoyu
• Is Part Of: European polymer journal. Volume 149(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-15
• Subjects: Polyelectrolyte complex -- Polypeptides -- Ring-opening polymerization -- α-helix -- Solution phase transition -- Polysaccharides; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; Polymerization; Polymers; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110390
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-3057

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: We demonstrated an ultrafast ring-opening polymerization of methylthio containing NCA monomer. We prepared sulfonium-based helical and cationic polypeptides. We studied the solution property of polyelectrolytes complexes with helical chain conformations. Abstract: Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) are attractive soft materials with many promising applications, such as drug delivery and coatings. Study on the solution properties of α-helical polypeptide based PECs are still rare. Herein, new PECs composed of α-helical sulfonium-based polypeptides (PPBLG-DMS-I) and polysaccharides (i.e., carboxymethyldextran sodium salt, CMD) were prepared and investigated on their solution property. PPBLG-DMS-I were synthesized by an ultrafast ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and subsequent alkylation of methylthio groups with high grafting efficiency. The aggregation size of the polypeptide-polysaccharide based PECs was in the range of 450–600 nm at room temperature depending on the cationic/anionic weight ratios (RCA s) and polypeptide concentrations. It decreased by about 300 nm with increasing of the temperature by 40 °C. PEC solutions showed salt induced sharp phase transitions accompanied by the formation of coacervate droplets at low salt concentrations (e.g., 1.5 mg·mL −1 ). pH induced phase transitions of PEC solutions at both acidic (e.g., pH = 2.5) and basic conditions (e.g., pH = 11.5).