Abstract
Hybrid block copolymers based on peptides and synthetic polymers, displaying different types of topologies, offer new possibilities to integrate the properties and functions of biomacromolecules and synthetic polymers in a single hybrid material. This review provides a current status report of the field concerning peptide-synthetic polymer hybrids. The first section is focused on the different synthetic approaches that have been used within the last three years for the preparation of peptide-polymer hybrids having different topologies. In the last two sections, the attractive properties, displayed in solution or in the solid state, together with the potential applications of this type of macromolecules or supramolecular systems are highlighted.
Highlights
Peptide-synthetic polymer hybrid architectures have received great interest in materials science within the last years
This study proposed the synthesis of a pH/temperature sensitive poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-alanine) grafted chitosan (CS-g-(PA-PEG)) in two steps
Polymeric micelles as drug delivery systems (DDS) offer many advantages [91,92], the most important being: i) colloidal stability with low critical micellar concentration (CMC), ii) tunable sizes with narrow size distribution, iii) ability to preserve the activities of drugs during circulation in blood, iv) high physical loading efficiency of drugs, v) bioconjugation for active targeting to specific diseased cells, and vi) controllable release of drugs upon external stimuli and degradation
Summary
Peptide-synthetic polymer hybrid architectures have received great interest in materials science within the last years. The economy, solubility, melt processability, versatility, or rubber elasticity of the synthetic block and the defined structure, functionality, mutual recognition, high mechanical performance or biodegradability of the peptide block These hybrids can be useful to stabilize the interface between polymer systems and biosystems. The possibility to combine the structural and functional control of peptides with the versatility of synthetic polymers has given access to a novel class of macromolecules that can take advantage of their complex solution behavior and their self-organization in the bulk. These materials can find as above indicated highly specific applications, including for example their use as smart materials. The applications selected for the last section represent a general assortment of the most original and interesting advances in this field
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