OEGylated polypeptide bearing triethylene glycol monomethylether (OEG3) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether 350 (OEG7) were first prepared by copper-mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. 1H NMR, FTIR, and GPC results indicated the successful… Click to show full abstract
OEGylated polypeptide bearing triethylene glycol monomethylether (OEG3) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether 350 (OEG7) were first prepared by copper-mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. 1H NMR, FTIR, and GPC results indicated the successful conjugation of oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) pendants with high grafting efficiency (≥ 98%). Variable temperature UV–vis spectroscopy revealed a reversible lower critical solution temperature (LCST)-type phase transition of the resulting polypeptides. The LCST-type cloud point temperature (Tcp) in the range of 20–60 °C can be readily tuned by changing the OEG3 and OEG7 composition. Thermo- and pH-responsive polypeptide was prepared by first conjugating of OEG and 6-aldehyde hexyl pendants, then crosslinking in the presence of 1,6-hexanediamine, yielding OEGylated polypeptide bearing pH-labile imine bonds. The resulting polypeptide showed pH-responsive property and less pronounced thermoresponsive property at high pH values (i.e., ≥ 6.15) and noticeable thermo- and pH- dual responsive properties at low pH values (i.e., ≤ 5.80). Graphical abstract We developed a new type of pH- and thermo-responsive OEGylated polypeptides containing imine bonds. The polypeptides are able to show pH-responsive property and less pronounced thermoresponsive property at high pH values and noticeable thermo- and pH- dual responsive properties at low pH values. We developed a new type of pH- and thermo-responsive OEGylated polypeptides containing imine bonds. The polypeptides are able to show pH-responsive property and less pronounced thermoresponsive property at high pH values and noticeable thermo- and pH- dual responsive properties at low pH values.
               
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