Self-Assembly Behavior of Elastin-like Polypeptide Diblock Copolymers Containing a Charged Moiety

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are stimulus-responsive protein-based biopolymers, and some ELP block copolymers can assemble into spherical nanoparticles with thermosensitivity. In this study, two different ELP diblock copolymers, each composed of a hydrophobic and a charged moiety, were synthesiz...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biomacromolecules 2021-06, Vol.22 (6), p.2604-2613
Main Authors: Choi, Jeong-Wan, Choi, Soo-Hyung, Won, Jong-In
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are stimulus-responsive protein-based biopolymers, and some ELP block copolymers can assemble into spherical nanoparticles with thermosensitivity. In this study, two different ELP diblock copolymers, each composed of a hydrophobic and a charged moiety, were synthesized, and the dependence of their physical properties on pH, temperature, and salt concentration was investigated. A series of analyses revealed that hydrophobic core micelles could be generated in response to a change in their surroundings and that micelles did not self-aggregate, a phenomenon due to the repulsive forces between like-charged molecules on the surface. We also demonstrated that self-assembly behavior was closely dependent on the character of the charged amino acid and the specific anion in solution.
ISSN:1525-7797
1526-4602
DOI:10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00322