One-Pot Synthesis of Thermoresponsive Amyloidogenic Peptide-Polymer Conjugates via Thio-Bromo "Click" Reaction of RAFT Polymers.

A synthetic strategy to efficiently prepare main-chain peptide-polymer conjugates probing their aggregation in solution is described. An in situ tandem reaction based on aminolysis/thio-bromo "click" reaction is performed to tether an amyloidogenic peptide fragment amyloid-β17-20 (Leu-Val-Phe-Phe (LVFF)) to the ω-chain end of poly(diethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate) (PDEGA), prepared via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Structural confirmation of the constructed conjugates PDEGA-LVFF (Mn,SEC = 5600, Ð = 1.21), (Mn,SEC = 7600, Ð = 1.16), and (Mn,SEC = 8900, Ð = 1.15) is successfully made by combined studies of 1 H NMR, size-exclusion chromatography, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, and electrospray ionization time-of-flight (ESI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The effect of the peptidic constituent on the thermoresponsive behavior of the polymer is examined by UV-vis spectroscopy, and the self-assembly behavior of the amphiphilic conjugate is further exploited, exhibiting micellar morphology in aqueous solution.