Synthesis of poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate)-grafted chitosan under γ-ray irradiation for alamethicin assembly

Interaction between peptide and lipid membrane plays a major role in biological activity of membrane-active peptide. We describe here a new biocompatible polymeric assembly to support membrane peptide. Specifically, chitosan-graft-poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (CS-g-PSBMA) was synthesized for alamethicin assembly by controlled polymerization under γ-ray irradiation. The graft copolymer could self-assemble into micelles in distilled water for supporting alamethicin. The assembly of alamethicin with CS-g-PSBMA micelles in aqueous solutions was related with the ratio of alamethicin/CS-g-PSBMA: the more alamethicin, the smaller sizes of the hybrid complex. Moreover, alamethicin penetrated into the hydrophobic cores of CS-g-PSBMA micelles while displayed secondary helical conformation in the complex. The results indicate that CS-g-PSBMA assemblies can be used to support membrane peptide.