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Luo Z, Yuan Y, Li L, Xie D, Liu C, Li T, Guo Z, Hao K, Li Y, Tian H. Facile Synthesis of High Molecular Weight Poly(ethylene glycol)- b-poly(amino acid)s by Relay Polymerization. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:1096-1107. [PMID: 38216512 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Poly(amino acid)s (PAAs) are one kind of favorable biopolymer that can be used as a drug or gene carrier. However, conventional ring-opening polymerization of PAAs is slow and needs a strict anhydrous environment with an anhydrous reagent as well as the product without enough high molecular weight (Mn), which limits the expanding of PAAs' application. Herein, we took BLG-NCA as the monomer to quickly synthesize one kind of high Mn amphiphilic copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamic acid) (PEG-PBLG), by relay polymerization with a simple one-pot method within 3 h in mild conditions (open air, moisture insensitive). In the polymerization process, ring-opening polymerization-induced self-assembly in sodium bicarbonate aqueous solution first occurred to obtain low Mn PEG-PBLG seeds without purification. Then γ-benzyl-l-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (BLG-NCA) dichloromethane solution was added into PEG-PBLG seeds directly and stirred vigorously to form am emulsion; during this process, the amphiphilic PEG-PBLG seeds will anchor on the interface of DCM and water to ensure the concentration of α-helix rigid PBLG in DCM to maintain the following relay polymerization. Then, high Mn PEG-PBLG was obtained in mild conditions in one pot. We found that the α-helix rigid structure was essential for relay polymerization by studying the synthetic speed of amphiphilic copolymer with different secondary structures. MOE simulation results showed that PBLG and BLG-NCA tended to form a double hydrogen bond, which was beneficial to relay polymerization because of higher local concentrations that can produce more double hydrogen bonds. Our strategy can quickly obtain high Mn PEG-PBLG (224.9 KDa) within 3 h from PEG-NH2 and BLG-NCA in one pot and did not need an extra initiator. After deprotection, the poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(l-glutamate acid) (PEG-PGA) with high Mn as a second product can be used as an excellent antitumor drug carrier. The high Mn PEG-PGA can achieve an encapsulation rate of 86.7% and a drug loading rate of 47.3%, which is twice that of the low Mn PEG-PGA. As a result, the synthesis of PEG-PBLG by relay polymerization simplified the process of PEG-PAA polymerization and increased the Mn. In addition, this method opened a way to obtain other kinds of high Mn PEG-PBLG values in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Yunan Yuan
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Ling Li
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Dayang Xie
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen 361024, China
| | - Chong Liu
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Tong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Zhaopei Guo
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Kai Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yanhui Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen 361024, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Huayu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
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Zhao B, Zhang X, Bickle MS, Fu S, Li Q, Zhang F. Development of polypeptide-based materials toward messenger RNA delivery. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:2250-2264. [PMID: 38213302 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr05635j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutic agents have demonstrated significant potential in recent times, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. As a promising prophylactic and therapeutic strategy, polypeptide-based mRNA delivery systems attract significant interest because of their low cost, simple preparation, tuneable sizes and morphology, convenient large-scale production, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In this review, we begin with a brief discussion of the synthesis of polypeptides, followed by a review of commonly used polypeptides in mRNA delivery, including classical polypeptides and cell-penetrating peptides. Then, the challenges against mRNA delivery, including extracellular, intracellular, and clinical barriers, are discussed in detail. Finally, we highlight a range of strategies for polypeptide-based mRNA delivery, offering valuable insights into the advancement of polypeptide-based mRNA carrier development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA.
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA.
| | - Molly S Bickle
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA.
| | - Shiwei Fu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA.
| | - Qingchun Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA.
| | - Fuwu Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA.
- The Dr John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Duan H, Li J, Xue J, Qi D. Metal-Enhanced Helical Chirality of Coil Macromolecules: Bioinspired by Metal Coordination-Induced Protein Folding. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:344-357. [PMID: 36563170 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Although the supramolecular helical structures of biomacromolecules have been studied, the examples of supramolecular systems that are assembled using coils to form helical polymer chains are still limited. Inspired by enhanced helical chirality at the supramolecular level in metal coordination-induced protein folding, a series of alanine-based coil copolymers (poly-(l-co-d)-ala-NH2) carrying (l)- and (d)-alanine pendants were synthesized as a fresh research model to study the cooperative processes between homochirality property and metal coordination. The complexes of poly-(l-co-d)-ala-NH2 and metal ions underwent a coil-to-helix transition and exhibited remarkable nonlinear effects based on the enantiomeric excess of the monomer unit in the copolymers, affording enhanced helical chirality compared to poly-(l-co-d)-ala-NH2. More importantly, the synergistic effect of amplification of asymmetry and metal coordination triggered the formation of a helical molecular orbital on the polymer backbone via the coordination with the d orbital of copper ions. Thus, the helical chirality enhancement degree of poly-(l-co-d)-ala-NH2/Cu2+ complexes (31.4) is approximately 3 times higher than that of poly-(l-co-d)-ala-NH2/Ag+ complexes (9.8). This study not only provides important mechanistic insights into the enhancement of helical chirality for self-assembly but also establishes a new strategy for studying the homochiral amplification of asymmetry in biological supramolecular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Duan
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China.,Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Green and Low-carbon Dyeing & Finishing, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P.R. China
| | - Jiawei Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China.,Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Green and Low-carbon Dyeing & Finishing, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P.R. China.,Zhejiang Provincial Innovation Center of Advanced Textile Technology, Shaoxing 312000, China
| | - Jiadan Xue
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Dongming Qi
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China.,Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center for Green and Low-carbon Dyeing & Finishing, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P.R. China.,Zhejiang Provincial Innovation Center of Advanced Textile Technology, Shaoxing 312000, China
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