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Intrinsically fluorescent polyureas toward conformation-assisted metamorphosis, discoloration and intracellular drug delivery.
- Source :
-
Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2022 Aug 05; Vol. 13 (1), pp. 4551. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Aug 05. - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Peptidomimetic polymers have attracted increasing interest because of the advantages of facile synthesis, high molecular tunability, resistance to degradation, and low immunogenicity. However, the presence of non-native linkages compromises their ability to form higher ordered structures and protein-inspired functions. Here we report a class of amino acid-constructed polyureas with molecular weight- and solvent-dependent helical and sheet-like conformations as well as green fluorescent protein-mimic autofluorescence with aggregation-induced emission characteristics. The copolymers self-assemble into vesicles and nanotubes and exhibit H-bonding-mediated metamorphosis and discoloration behaviors. We show that these polymeric vehicles with ultrahigh stability, superfast responsivity and conformation-assisted cell internalization efficiency could act as an "on-off" switchable nanocarrier for specific intracellular drug delivery and effective cancer theranosis in vitro and in vivo. This work provides insights into the folding and hierarchical assembly of biomacromolecules, and a new generation of bioresponsive polymers and nonconventional luminescent aliphatic materials for diverse applications.<br /> (© 2022. The Author(s).)
- Subjects :
- Drug Delivery Systems
Molecular Conformation
Nanotubes chemistry
Polymers chemistry
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2041-1723
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature communications
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 35931687
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32053-1