Tunable, Functional Diblock Copolypeptide Hydrogels Based on Methionine Homologs

The preparation of new diblock copolypeptide hydrogels derived from homologs of l‐methionine, that is, l‐homomethionine and l‐6‐(methylthio)‐l‐norleucine is described. Compared to l‐methionine residues, use of l‐methionine homologs allow improved copolymerization with l‐leucine residues to give well...

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Veröffentlicht in:Macromolecular bioscience 2020-01, Vol.20 (1), p.e1900243-n/a
Hauptverfasser: Negri, Graciela E., Gharakhanian, Eric G., Deming, Timothy J.
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:The preparation of new diblock copolypeptide hydrogels derived from homologs of l‐methionine, that is, l‐homomethionine and l‐6‐(methylthio)‐l‐norleucine is described. Compared to l‐methionine residues, use of l‐methionine homologs allow improved copolymerization with l‐leucine residues to give well‐defined block copolypeptides. These copolypeptides are subsequently modified using robust thioether alkylation reactions employing a variety of functional epoxides, which yield samples capable of forming transparent, self‐healing hydrogels in water. The facile variation of different functional epoxides for postpolymerization modification is found to allow predictable functionalization and tuning of hydrogel properties by the modification of simple precursors. Block copolypeptides containing alkylated homologs of l‐methionine form hydrogels in water that are self‐healing, and their mechanical properties can be tuned by variation of sample concentration, side‐chain length, and nature of side‐chain functionality. These results provide a starting platform for the development of hydrogels prepared from simple precursors that can possess a range of different functionality.
ISSN:1616-5187
1616-5195
DOI:10.1002/mabi.201900243