Peptide-Assisted Design of Precision Polymer Sequences: On the Relevance of the Side-Chain Sequences and the Variability of the Backbone.

Functional sequences of monodisperse, sequence-defined oligo(amide-urethane)s are designed based on a peptide sequence as blueprint. The translation of a discrete side-chain functionality sequence from a known peptide-based solubilizer of the photosensitizer meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)-chlorin, into a non-peptidic precision polymer backbone is demonstrated. The resulting peptidomimetic precision polymers retain the functions of the parent peptide sequence, showing analogues sensitivity toward single monomer mutations/exchanges and even exceeding the parent peptide equivalent by reaching up to 69% higher payload capacities and more favored release kinetics.