Copolypeptide Vesicles: Size Control for Intracellular Drug Delivery: Self-Assembled Copolypeptide Morphologies for Biomedical Applications - Softcover

Holowka, Eric

Softcover

ISBN 10: 363917996X ISBN 13: 9783639179965

Publisher: VDM Verlag, 2009

Synopsis

Much focus has been given to the synthesis of polypeptidic based materials due to their unique structural features. These polypeptides commonly are amphiphilic in character that benefit from secondary structural features associated with one of the polymer blocks. These features, such as alpha- helix and beta-sheet conformations, allow for control over nanoscale ordering through self- assembly for use in biological sensors and therapeutic drug delivery. We report the preparation and characterization of charged amphiphilic block copolypeptide vesicle formers using transition metal mediated living ring-opening polymerization of N- carboxyanhydrides (NCAs). The vesicle membranes show fluidic properties suggested by dynamic physical behavior allowing for fine size adjustments using liposomal extrusion methods. This extrusion also allows for a facile mode of encapsulation of biomolecules for drug delivery. Modification of the charged residues has shown vesicle stability under osmotic and thermal stress, in pH buffers, and serum cell media, as well as the ability for lipid and cellular interactions.

About this title

About the Author

Eric Holowka earned a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University in 2001, while researching at the Center for Macromolecular Engineering. He then pursued research at the California Nanosystems Institute in the University of California Santa Barbara, where he was awarded a Ph.D in Materials Science & Engineering in 2006.

Edition details

• Publisher: VDM Verlag
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 363917996X
• ISBN 13: 9783639179965
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 260