Mimic of Protein: A Highly pH-Sensitive and Thermoresponsive Polyampholyte

✍ Scribed by Yuqiong Xia; Min Gao; Ye Chen; Xinru Jia; Dehai Liang

• Book ID: 102941982
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 949 KB
• Volume: 212
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1022-1352
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.201100352

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

As a mimic of protein, a polyampholyte‐based material should be able to duplicate the properties and functions of protein. A polyampholyte that is highly sensitive to both pH and temperature under physiological conditions is obtained when 80% butylamide‐terminated poly(amidoamine) dentron is grafted to the backbone of styrene and maleic anhydride. The phase separation occurs at 33.7 °C at pH = 6.20, while the transition point increases to 43.9 °C at pH = 6.30. The superior performance is the consequence of the cooperative interactions among basic, acidic, and thermoresponsive groups. The polyampholyte with a suitable isoelectric point provides a platform for the development of multifunctional materials for biomedical applications.