Northwestern Events Calendar

Mar
29
2021

Protein-Like Polymers as Novel Proteomimetic Therapeutics

When: Monday, March 29, 2021
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CT

Where: Online

Audience: Faculty/Staff - Student - Post Docs/Docs - Graduate Students

Contact: Liz Murphy   (312) 503-4892

Group: Department of Pharmacology Seminars

Category: Lectures & Meetings

Description:

Nathan C. Gianneschi, PhD
Jacob & Rosaline Cohn Professor
Departments of Chemistry, Materials Science & Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Pharmacology
Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University

Abstract: In this presentation, we will describe the organization of functional peptides as sidechains on polymer scaffolds as a new class of poly(peptide). We term these materials, Protein-Like Polymers (PLPs), wherein peptide-brush polymers are composed from monomers, each containing a peptide side-chain. Peptides organized in this manner imbue polymers with a range of functional qualities inherent to their specific sequence. Therefore, polymers otherwise lacking bioactivity, or responsiveness to stimuli, once linked to a peptide of choice, can now bind proteins, enter cells and tissues, have controlled and switchable biodistribution patterns, and be enzyme substrates (e.g. for kinases, phosphatases, proteases). Synergistically, the polymer enforces changes in peptide activity and function by virtue of packing and constraining the peptide. The scaffold can protect the peptide from proteolysis, change the pharmacokinetic profile of an intravenously injected peptide, increase the cellular uptake of an otherwise cell impermeable therapeutic peptide, or change peptide substrate activity entirely. Hence, the two elements, peptide and polymer, cooperate to yield materials with unique function and properties quite apart from each alone. Herein, we describe the development of this class of biomolecule polymer conjugate, and discuss their utility in a range of settings, including as a new class of proteomimetic therapeutic.

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