Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 6, 2026

3D Printing and In Situ Surface Modification via Type I Photoinitiated Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization
Published on: February 18, 2022
Bioactive Peptide Brush Polymers via Photoinduced Reversible-Deactivation Radical Polymerization
Hao Sun1, Wonmin Choi1, Nanzhi Zang1
1Department of Chemistry, Materials Science & Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Simpson Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and the Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
Abstract:
Harnessing metal-free photoinduced reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (photo-RDRP) in organic and aqueous phases, we report a synthetic approach to enzyme-responsive and pro-apoptotic peptide brush polymers. Thermolysin-responsive peptide-based polymeric amphiphiles assembled into spherical micellar nanoparticles that undergo a morphology transition to worm-like micelles upon enzyme-triggered cleavage of coronal peptide sidechains. Moreover, pro-apoptotic polypeptide brushes show enhanced cell uptake over individual peptide chains of the same sequence, resulting in a significant increase in cytotoxicity to cancer cells. Critically, increased grafting density of pro-apoptotic peptides on brush polymers correlates with increased uptake efficiency and concurrently, cytotoxicity. The mild synthetic conditions afforded by photo-RDRP, make it possible to access well-defined peptide-based polymer bioconjugate structures with tunable bioactivity.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

