SECOPOLY

Sequence-controlled polypeptide copolymers

Description : Using polymer chemistry, the development of artificial proteins aims to design simplified analogues which will partially reproduce structural or functional features of their natural model. The SECOPOLY project intends to conceive such polymeric analogues by using ring-opening copolymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides. By controlling the reactivity of the NCA monomers in such polymerization process, our goal is to produce new classes of polymeric materials, able to better reproduce the functionality found in extracellular matrix proteins. To date, only less cost-competitive materials including bio-engineered proteins or oligomers prepared by iterative peptide synthesis can reproduce this level of complexity, with limitations in terms of cost and amount of materials.

Funding : Bordeaux Doctoral School of Chemical Sciences