화학공학소재연구정보센터
Biomacromolecules, Vol.21, No.12, 5053-5066, 2020
Poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) Antimalaria Conjugates of Membrane-Disruptive Peptides
The concepts of polymer-peptide conjugation and self-assembly were applied to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the development of a targeted antimalaria drug delivery construct. This study describes the synthesis of alpha-acetal, omega-xanthate heterotelechelic poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)-mediated polymerization, followed by postpolymerization deprotection to yield alpha-aldehyde, omega-thiol heterotelechelic PVP. A specific targeting peptide, GSRSKGT, for Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes was used to sparsely decorate the alpha-chain ends via reductive amination while cyclic decapeptides from the tyrocidine group were conjugated to the omega-chain end via thiol-ene Michael addition. The resultant constructs were self-assembled into micellar nanoaggregates whose sizes and morphologies were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The in vitro activity and selectivity of the conjugates were evaluated against intraerythrocytic P. falciparum parasites.