Precise design of biomimetic polymers with enhanced target binding avidity through the introduction of cyclic topology

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K14728
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 35010:Polymer chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Nagao Masanori 九州大学, 工学研究院, 助教 (40904008)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 環状高分子 / 分子間相互作用 / 糖鎖高分子 / リビング重合 / タンパク質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Throughout the research period, we successfully synthesized cyclic glycopolymers using living radical polymerization. Highly pure cyclic glycopolymers were obtained through a purification procedure. Evaluation of their physical properties using differential scanning calorimetry and NMR relaxation time revelated that cyclization of the polymer structures reduced their molecular mobility. The cyclization of the main chain weakened the interactions of glycopolymers with target proteins, indicating that the higher molecular mobility of the polymer main chain was favorable. On the other hand, in terms of the side chains, the lower mobility was preferable for the interactions. This research showed that the local mobility of polymers affects the function of molecular recognition, contributing to the development of synthetic polymers as nanomaterials. The research results were mainly published in two international papers.

Free Research Field

高分子化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

合成高分子は日常生活においてプラスチック材料としてよく知られるが、分子レベルで見るとDNAやタンパク質といったナノサイズの大きさの生体高分子と同じスケールをもつ。タンパク質はアミノ酸が連なった構造をしており、アミノ酸の並び方によって決まったカタチをとり、酵素や抗体のような優れた機能を発揮している。本研究は人間がフラスコで作る合成高分子を天然の生体高分子のように精密に合成し、それらと同等もしくは凌駕する機能性ナノ材料を合成することを目指している。今回の研究成果は合成高分子のカタチを線形から環状にすることで分子同士の結合に影響を与えることを明らかにし、上述の目標達成に貢献した。