Polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides Catalyzed by Macromolecular Architecture

多肽是蛋白质的结构组分，是一类重要的生物大分子。 由于其结构和功能的多样性，天然存在的和合成的多肽都用于广泛的应用中。 伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校程建军教授的研究小组开发了合成多肽的新策略，并研究了加速聚合速率的因素。 该项目为学生提供研究培训，包括代表性不足的群体的成员，为聚合物行业准备熟练的劳动力。 郑教授的研究小组致力发展N-羧酸酐单体的链增长聚合反应，以高转化率、高聚合度、高分子量和高分子量的多肽为目标，和低多分散性。 为了了解这种化学反应的机理和控制聚合动力学的因素，研究小组研究了聚合速率对单体结构、螺旋构象、添加剂和溶剂的依赖性。 该团队进一步研究了引发剂结构对NCA聚合速率的影响。 该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

Polypeptides, the structural components of proteins, is an important class of biopolymers. Because of their structural and functional diversity, both naturally occurring and synthetic polypeptides are used in a wide range of applications. Professor Jianjun Cheng's research group at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign develops novel strategies to synthesize polypeptides and investigates the factors that accelerate the rate of polymerization. This project provides research training to students, including members of underrepresented groups, preparing a skilled workforce for the polymer industry. Research is integrated into various educational and outreach endeavors, including the Discover Engineering Summer Camp Program and Engineering Open-House Program at the University of Illinois, for undergraduates and K-12 students.Prof. Cheng's research group aims to develop the chain growth polymerization of N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) monomers as an efficient approach to synthesize polypeptides with high conversion, high degree of polymerization, and low polydispersity. To understand the mechanism of this chemistry and the factors that control the polymerization kinetics, the research group studies the dependence of polymerization rate on monomer structures, helical conformation, additives, and solvent. The team further investigates the effects of the architecture of the initiator on the rate of NCA polymerization. The roles of architecture provided by dendrimers, micelles, and non-covalent perylene-based pi-stacks are explored.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.