1
|
Tinajero-Díaz E, Judge N, Li B, Leigh T, Murphy RD, Topham PD, Derry MJ, Heise A. Poly(l-proline)-Stabilized Polypeptide Nanostructures via Ring-Opening Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly (ROPISA). ACS Macro Lett 2024; 13:1031-1036. [PMID: 39074359 PMCID: PMC11340022 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Poly(proline) II helical motifs located at the protein-water interface stabilize the three-dimensional structures of natural proteins. Reported here is the first example of synthetic biomimetic poly(proline)-stabilized polypeptide nanostructures obtained by a straightforward ring-opening polymerization-induced self-assembly (ROPISA) process through consecutive N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerization. It was found that the use of multifunctional 8-arm initiators is critical for the formation of nanoparticles. Worm-like micelles as well as spherical morphologies were obtained as confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The loading of the nanostructures with dyes is demonstrated. This fast and open-vessel procedure gives access to amino acids-based nanomaterials with potential for applications in nanomedicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Tinajero-Díaz
- Department
of Chemistry, RCSI University of Medicine
and Health Sciences, 123 St. Stephen’s Green, D02
YN77 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nicola Judge
- Department
of Chemistry, RCSI University of Medicine
and Health Sciences, 123 St. Stephen’s Green, D02
YN77 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Bo Li
- Department
of Chemistry, RCSI University of Medicine
and Health Sciences, 123 St. Stephen’s Green, D02
YN77 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Thomas Leigh
- Department
of Chemistry, RCSI University of Medicine
and Health Sciences, 123 St. Stephen’s Green, D02
YN77 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Robert D. Murphy
- Department
of Chemistry, RCSI University of Medicine
and Health Sciences, 123 St. Stephen’s Green, D02
YN77 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paul D. Topham
- Aston
Institute
for Membrane Excellence, Aston University, B4 7ET Birmingham, U.K.
| | - Matthew J. Derry
- Aston
Institute
for Membrane Excellence, Aston University, B4 7ET Birmingham, U.K.
| | - Andreas Heise
- Department
of Chemistry, RCSI University of Medicine
and Health Sciences, 123 St. Stephen’s Green, D02
YN77 Dublin, Ireland
- Science
Foundation Ireland (SFI) Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CURAM), D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
- AMBER, The
SFI Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
György C, Wagstaff JS, Hunter SJ, Etim EU, Armes SP. Effect of Added Salt on the RAFT Polymerization of 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate in Aqueous Media. Macromolecules 2024; 57:6816-6827. [PMID: 39071045 PMCID: PMC11271178 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c01078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
We report the effect of added salt on the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in aqueous media. More specifically, poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC26) was employed as a salt-tolerant water-soluble block for chain extension with HEMA targeting PHEMA DPs from 100 to 800 in the presence of NaCl. Increasing the salt concentration significantly reduces the aqueous solubility of both the HEMA monomer and the growing PHEMA chains. HEMA conversions of more than 99% could be achieved within 6 h at 70 °C regardless of the NaCl concentration when targeting PMPC26-PHEMA800 vesicles at 20% w/w solids. Significantly faster rates of polymerization were observed at higher salt concentration owing to the earlier onset of micellar nucleation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to construct a pseudo-phase diagram for this polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) formulation. High-quality images required cross-linking of the PHEMA chains with glutaraldehyde prior to salt removal via dialysis. Block copolymer spheres, worms, or vesicles can be accessed at any salt concentration up to 2.5 M NaCl. However, only kinetically trapped spheres could be obtained in the presence of 3 M NaCl because the relatively low HEMA monomer solubility under such conditions leads to an aqueous emulsion polymerization rather than an aqueous dispersion polymerization. In this case, dynamic light scattering studies indicated a gradual increase in z-average diameter from 26 to 86 nm when adjusting the target PHEMA degree of polymerization from 200 to 800. When targeting PMPC26-PHEMA800 vesicles, increasing the salt content up to 2.5 M NaCl leads to a systematic reduction in the z-average diameter from 953 to 92 nm. Similarly, TEM analysis and dispersion viscosity measurements indicated a gradual reduction in worm contour length with increasing salt concentration for PMPC26-PHEMA600 worms. This new PISA formulation clearly illustrates the importance of added salt on aqueous monomer solubility and how this affects (i) the kinetics of polymerization, (ii) the morphology of the corresponding diblock copolymer nano-objects, and (iii) the mode of polymerization in aqueous media.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Csilla György
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, Brook Hill, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Jacob S. Wagstaff
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, Brook Hill, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Saul J. Hunter
- Joseph
Banks Laboratories, School of Chemistry, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN6 7TS, U.K.
| | - Esther U. Etim
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, Brook Hill, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, Brook Hill, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Brotherton EE, Josland D, György C, Johnson EC, Chan DHH, Smallridge MJ, Armes SP. Histidine-Functionalized Diblock Copolymer Nanoparticles Exhibit Enhanced Adsorption onto Planar Stainless Steel. Macromol Rapid Commun 2023; 44:e2200903. [PMID: 36534428 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202200903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization of isopropylideneglycerol monomethacrylate (IPGMA) is used to prepare a series of PGEO5MA46 -PIPGMAy nanoparticles, where PGEO5MA is a hydrophilic methacrylic steric stabilizer block bearing pendent cis-diol groups. TEM studies confirm a spherical morphology while dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis indicated that the z-average particle diameter can be adjusted by varying the target degree of polymerization for the core-forming PIPGMA block. Periodate oxidation is used to convert the cis-diol groups on PGEO5MA46 -PIPGMA500 and PGEO5MA46 -PIPGMA1000 nanoparticles into the analogous aldehyde-functionalized nanoparticles, which are then reacted with histidine via reductive amination. In each case, the extent of functionalization is more than 99% as determined by 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Aqueous electrophoresis studies indicate that such derivatization converts initially neutral nanoparticles into zwitterionic nanoparticles with an isoelectric point at pH 7. DLS studies confirm that such histidine-derivatized nanoparticles remain colloidally stable over a wide pH range. A quartz crystal microbalance is employed at 25°C to assess the adsorption of both the cis-diol- and histidine-functionalized nanoparticles onto planar stainless steel at pH 6. The histidine-bearing nanoparticles adsorb much more strongly than their cis-diol counterparts. For the highest adsorbed amount of 70.5 mg m-2 , SEM indicates a fractional surface coverage of 0.23 for the adsorbed nanoparticles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma E Brotherton
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Daniel Josland
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Csilla György
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Edwin C Johnson
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Derek H H Chan
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Mark J Smallridge
- GEO Specialty Chemicals, Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire, SO45 3ZG, UK
| | - Steven P Armes
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wei Y, Cui S, Yu L, Ding J. Degradation-Influenced/Induced Self-Assembly of Copolymers with the Combinatory Effects of Changed Molecular Weight and Dispersity. Macromolecules 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c02309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
|
5
|
Shape-Shifting Thermoresponsive Block Copolymer Nano-Objects. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 634:906-920. [PMID: 36566636 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.12.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In this Feature Article, we review our recent progress in the design of shape-shifting thermoresponsive diblock copolymer nano-objects, which are prepared using various hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylic monomers (e.g. 2‑hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 4‑hydroxybutyl acrylate or hydroxybutyl methacrylate) to generate the thermoresponsive block. Unlike traditional thermoresponsive polymers such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), there is no transition between soluble and insoluble polymer chains in aqueous solution. Instead, thermally driven transitions between a series of copolymer morphologies (e.g. spheres, worms, vesicles or lamellae) occur on adjusting the aqueous solution temperature owing to a subtle change in the partial degree of hydration of the permanently insoluble thermoresponsive block. Such remarkable self-assembly behavior is unprecedented in colloid science: no other amphiphilic diblock copolymer or surfactant system undergoes such behavior at a fixed chemical composition and concentration. Such shape-shifting nano-objects are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, small-angle X-ray scattering, rheology and variable temperature 1H NMR spectroscopy. Potential applications for this fascinating new class of amphiphiles are briefly considered.
Collapse
|
6
|
Penfold NJW, Neal TJ, Plait C, Leigh AE, Chimonides G, Smallridge MJ, Armes SP. Reverse sequence polymerization-induced self-assembly in aqueous media: a counter-intuitive approach to sterically-stabilized diblock copolymer nano-objects. Polym Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2py01064j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
A 500 nm charge-stabilized latex is converted into 40 nm sterically-stabilized nanoparticles via reverse sequence polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. W. Penfold
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Thomas J. Neal
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Corentin Plait
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Andrew E. Leigh
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Gwen Chimonides
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | | | - Steven P. Armes
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| |
Collapse
|