Self-Assembly of Multiply-Responsive Peptide Copolymers

该项目致力于开发能够干扰淀粉样蛋白纤维形成的新型多反应多肽/聚合物结合物。淀粉样变性是许多疾病的罪魁祸首，如II型糖尿病、CJD，尤其是阿尔茨海默病，与发达国家的老龄化人口特别相关。淀粉样变性是由蛋白质和多肽错误折叠成纤维引起的。我们将基于淀粉样β蛋白多肽(据信与阿尔茨海默氏症有关)的片段来制备新材料。这些将通过最近开发的合成方法偶联到响应性合成聚合物和多肽上。其目的是制备能够与淀粉样蛋白结合并破坏纤维化的多肽共聚物。多肽与聚合物的结合使得能够制备具有增强体内稳定性的材料，并且使用响应性聚合物将能够针对热或化学刺激进行靶向递送。这有望导致一系列可能的治疗应用的新材料。

This project is focussed on the development of novel multiply-responsive peptide/polymer conjugates that can disrupt the formation of amyloid fibrils. Amyloidosis is responsible for many diseases such as type II diabetes, CJD and especially Alzheimers, of especial relevance to the aging population in the developed world. Amyloidosis is caused by the misfolding of proteins and peptides into fibrils. We will prepare novel materials based on fragments of the amyloid beta peptide (believed to be responsible for Alzheimer's). These will be coupled via recently-developed synthetic methods to responsive synthetic polymers and peptides. The aim is to prepare peptide copolymers that can bind to amyloid and disrupt fibrillisation. Conjugation of peptides with polymers enables materials to be prepared that have enhanced stability in vivo and the use of responsive polymers will enable targeted delivery in response to thermal or chemical stimuli. This is expected to lead to a range of novel materials with possible therapeutic applications.