Precision Biopolymers from Protein Precursors for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The synthesis of biohybrid materials with tailored functional properties represents a topic of emerging interest. Combining proteins as natural, macromolecular building blocks, and synthetic polymers opens access to giant brush-like biopolymers of high structural definition. The properties of these precision polypeptide copolymers can be tailored through various chemical modifications along their polypeptide backbone, which expands the repertoire of known protein-based materials to address biomedical applications. In this article, the synthetic strategies for the design of precision biopolymers from proteins through amino acid specific conjugation reagents are highlighted and the different functionalization strategies, their characterization, and applications are discussed.

Antimicrobial and Anti‐Biofilm Activities of Surface Engineered Polycationic Albumin Nanoparticles with Reduced Hemolytic Activity

“…The reactions were allowed to shake overnight at RT, followed by ultrafiltration with 3 × 6 mL ultrapure water at a MWCO of 30 kDa to remove unreacted PEG. The purified proteins were lyophilized to obtain white solids of PEG (750) 4 -cHSA (20 mg from 20 mg cHSA, 94% yield), PEG (750) 10 -cHSA www.advancedsciencenews.com www.mbs-journal.de (21 from 21 mg cHSA, 90% yield), PEG (750) 14 -cHSA (24 mg from 24 mg cHSA, 85% yield) and PEG (750) 28 -cHSA (50 mg from 65 mg cHSA, 58% yield). The hybrids were characterized by MALDI-ToF analysis and used for subsequent evaluation.…”

“…Protein-based polymers such as albumin hybrid macromolecules have drawn considerable attention for the fabrication of nanoparticles owing to their non-toxicity, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. [12][13][14][15][16] Despite possessing other attractive properties such as an extraordinary binding capacity to exogenous and endogenous ligands, the anionic nature of native human serum albumin (nHSA) greatly hampers efficient uptake into bacteria cells. [17] Strategies to impart nHSA with antimicrobial character can easily be achieved by taking advantage of the high number of surface reactive residues for multiple chemical modifications.…”

“…Representative MALDI-ToF spectral images for (PEG 750) n -cHSA are presented in Figure 1b. The PEGylated cHSA derivatives were denoted according to the PEG surface modifications (PEG (750) 4 -cHSA, PEG (750) 10 -cHSA, PEG (750) 14 -cHSA, PEG (750) 28 administration. We observed no significant change in hydrodynamic radii following PEGylation likely attributable to the low PEG chain length/density of the nanoparticles as reported in previous studies.…”

PEGylated Cationic Serum Albumin for Boosting Retroviral Gene Transfer

“…Instead of synthetic polyelectrolytes, protein‐based polyelectrolytes might represent attractive candidates for enhancing retroviral transduction because they offer several advantages such as biocompatibility, biodegradability and narrow dispersities . The abundant plasma protein human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant endogenous transporter protein in blood.…”

“…[12] Instead of synthetic polyelectrolytes, protein-based polyelectrolytes might represent attractive candidates for enhancing retroviral transduction [13] because they offer several advantages such as biocompatibility,b iodegradability and narrow dispersities. [13][14] The abundant plasma protein human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant endogenoust ransporter protein in blood. Thankst ot he presence of ah igh number of reactive residues (e.g.,g lutamic acid, aspartic acid and lysine), native HSA (nHSA)e nables multiple chemical modifications.…”