1. Self-Assembly of Telechelic Tyrosine End-Capped PEO Star Polymers in Aqueous Solution
- Author
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Edwards-Gayle, Charlotte J. C., Greco, Francesca, Hamley, Ian W., Rambo, Robert P., Reza, Mehedi, Ruokolainen, Janne, Skoulas, Dimitrios, and Iatrou, Hermis
- Abstract
We investigate the self-assembly of two telechelic star polymer–peptide conjugates based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) four-arm star polymers capped with oligotyrosine. The conjugates were prepared via N-carboxy anhydride-mediated ring-opening polymerization from PEO star polymer macroinitiators. Self-assembly occurs above a critical aggregation concentration determined via fluorescence probe assays. Peptide conformation was examined using circular dichroism spectroscopy. The structure of self-assembled aggregates was probed using small-angle X-ray scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. In contrast to previous studies on linear telechelic PEO–oligotyrosine conjugates that show self-assembly into β-sheet fibrils, the star architecture suppresses fibril formation and micelles are generally observed instead, a small population of fibrils only being observed upon pH adjustment. Hydrogelation is also suppressed by the polymer star architecture. These peptide-functionalized star polymer solutions are cytocompatible at sufficiently low concentration. These systems present tyrosine at high density and may be useful in the development of future enzyme or pH-responsive biomaterials.
- Published
- 2024
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