Polypept(o)ides: From Novel Materials to Therapies

The enormous potential of polymer-based nanomedicines arises from combining desirable material properties and compartmentalized functionalities within a single system.[1] However, this multi-functionality creates synthetic complexity that hinder clinical translation.[2,3] A key challenge is therefore to reduce chemical complexity while preserving functionality.

To address this, we developed polypept(o)ides, combining polypeptoids and polypeptides,[4] allowing precise control over polymer architecture, molecular weight, low dispersity, end-group integrity, and multifunctionality.[5,6] Based entirely on endogenous amino acids, these materials combine multi-functionality of peptides with the stealth properties of polysarcosine (pSar).[7,8]

Polypept(o)ides enable the straightforward synthesis of core cross-linked micelles,[9-14] polyion complex micelles,[15-18] nanohydrogels,[9] molecular polymer brushes,[18-21] and polymer–lipid conjugates.[22-25] Their morphology, core, and corona functionality can be precisely tailored to the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), therapeutic needs, and pathophysiology of the target tissue. 

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