Controlled Polymerization of Amino Acid N-Carboxyanhydrides

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This project aims at the development of new methods for the synthesis of polypeptides with well defined structures. Polypeptides are a class of biomaterials with numerous applications. The most economical process for synthesizing high molecular-weight polypeptides in large-scale is through the polymerization of alpha-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides with amines as the initiators. Although polypeptides can be readily synthesized using this process, the resulting polypeptides have uncontrolled molecular weights, broad molecular weight distributions, and poorly defined end groups. This project will study the in situ silylation of amine initiators for the controlled polymerization of alpha-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides. With this grant, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research of Professor Jianjun Cheng of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Professor Cheng's research efforts involve the development of initiators for the controlled polymerization of alpha-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides. Such chemistry will allow control over the end groups as well as the polypeptide molecular weight distribution. Successful development of this methodology has significant impact on both the pharmaceutical and biomaterials industries.