Abstract
Poly(L‐leucine)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(L‐leucine) triblock copolymers were synthesized by a ring‐opening polymerization of α‐amino acid N‐carboxyanhydride with amino‐terminated PEG as an initiator. The chloroform solution of these peptide copolymers showed a thermo‐sensitive sol‐gel transition. The transition temperature varied as a function of the length of peptide segments. Additionally, we used these peptide copolymers to remove an endocrine disruptor such as bisphenol A from its aqueous solution. As a result, it became clear that the peptide copolymer gel used in this study could capture bisphenol A efficiently.
Highlights
Since the ring-opening polymerization of α-amino acid Ncarboxyanhydride was widely introduced by Kricheldorf [1, 2], various type of peptide (poly(amino acid)) has been synthesized in the world
Characteristic Properties of Peptide Copolymer Synthesized in This Study
We investigated thermal nature of the copolymer itself and of its chloroform solution by using differential scanning calorimetry, and an exothermic peak related to sol-gel transition was observed
Summary
Since the ring-opening polymerization of α-amino acid Ncarboxyanhydride was widely introduced by Kricheldorf [1, 2], various type of peptide (poly(amino acid)) has been synthesized in the world. Block copolymers that contain peptide segments are studied eagerly in the various fields. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is known to have a low toxicity and not to produce an antibody after the injection into human body. It is biocompatible and appropriate for using in vivo [5]. The block copolymer containing PEG segments have recently been studied as a biofunctional material, and the molecular design of them has been examined energetically [6,7,8,9,10]. We synthesized the block copolymer of PEG of which poly(L-leucine) combined with both ends and did the removal experiment of the organic molecules from their water solutions by using organogels of this copolymer. Endocrine disruptors are thought to influence generative functions, and it is an urgent subject to remove them from the environment [11,12,13]
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