Polypept(o)ides: Hybrid Systems Based on Polypeptides and Polypeptoids

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 36; no. 22; pp. 1943 - 1957
• Main Authors: Klinker, Kristina, Barz, Matthias
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Amino acids; Amino Acids - chemistry; Anhydrides - chemistry; Block copolymers; Blocking; Copolymers; drug delivery; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; gene delivery; Gene Transfer Techniques; Glycine; Humans; hybrid; Hybrid systems; Immune response; Molecular Weight; Molecular weight distribution; Nanomedicine - methods; Nanomedicine - trends; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology; Peptides - chemical synthesis; Peptoids - chemical synthesis; Polymerization; polypept(o)ides; Polypeptides; polypeptoids; Protein structure; Protein Structure, Secondary; Ring opening polymerization; Sarcosine - analogs & derivatives; Sarcosine - chemical synthesis; Secondary structure; Self assembly; Storage diseases; systems; Tasks; gene delivery; self-assembly; hybrid; systems; polypeptoids; drug delivery; polypept(o)ides; polypeptides
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201500403

Polypept(o)ides combine the multifunctionality and intrinsic stimuli‐responsiveness of synthetic polypeptides with the “stealth”‐like properties of the polypeptoid polysarcosine (poly(N‐methyl glycine)). This class of block copolymers can be synthesized by sequential ring opening polymerization of α‐amino acid N‐carboxy‐anhydrides (NCAs) and correspondingly of the N‐substituted glycine N‐carboxyanhydride (NNCA). The resulting block copolymers are characterized by Poisson‐like molecular weight distributions, full end group integrity, and dispersities below 1.2. While polysarcosine may be able to tackle the currently arising issues regarding the gold standard PEG, including storage diseases in vivo and immune responses, the polypeptidic block provides the functionalities for a specific task. Additionally, polypeptides are able to form secondary structure motives, e.g., α‐helix or β‐sheets, which can be used to direct self‐assembly in solution. In this feature article, we review the relatively new field of polypept(o)ides with respect to synthesis, characterization, and first data on the application of block copolypept(o)ides in nanomedicine. The summarized data already indicates the great potential of polypept(o)ides. Polypept(o)ides are hybrid materials consisting of polypeptides and poly­peptoids. In this feature article, the synthetic methods, polymer properties, self‐assembly in solution, and first applications as nanomedicines are summarized. Moreover, future perspectives for polypept(o)ides are outlined.