Bioinspired single-chain polymer nanoparticles

Polymer chains can be folded/collapsed to individual, single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs) by means of intrachain crosslinking techniques. In some ways, SCNP formation is reminiscent of protein folding although current synthetic methods lack the perfection of protein folding to functional enzy...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Pomposo, José A.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/102832
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/102832
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Folding/collapse
Ordered/disordered proteins
Biomimetic nano-objects
Single-chain polymer nanoparticles
Descripción
Sumario:Polymer chains can be folded/collapsed to individual, single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs) by means of intrachain crosslinking techniques. In some ways, SCNP formation is reminiscent of protein folding although current synthetic methods lack the perfection of protein folding to functional enzymes. However, in recent years the structure-function paradigm (i.e. amino acid sequence → 3D structure → function) has been revisited by taking into account that many non-structured segments of proteins, and even totally disordered proteins, play important roles in protein function. In this perspective article, we highlight the significant added value that is endowed to SCNPs by taking inspiration from the functions of both ordered and disordered proteins. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.