pH-responsive, self-assembling nanoparticle from a fullerene-tagged poly(l-glutamic acid) and its superoxide dismutase mimetic property - Analytical Methods & Tools for Lyophilization

pH-responsive, self-assembling nanoparticle from a fullerene-tagged poly(l-glutamic acid) and its superoxide dismutase mimetic property
Received 9 November 2005; accepted 9 December 2005. Available online 10 January 2006.
Nobuyuki Higashia, , , Takeshi Shosua, Tomoyuki Kogaa, Masazo Niwaa and Toru Tanigawab
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
Volume 298, Issue 1 , 1 June 2006
ScienceDirect
Abstract
In this study, we describe the fabrication of novel fullerene-containing peptide-nanoparticles through self-assembly. A water-soluble, poly(l-glutamic acid)-attached fullerene was newly synthesized and the conformation and self-assembling property in water were examined by using circular dichroism, FTIR, UV, atomic force microscopy, and dynamic light scattering measurements. In the lower pH region (<6.8), the fullerene peptide self-assembles into nanoparticles that are ca. 100Ò200 nm in diameter. These nanoparticles are rich in a-helices, and stacking interaction of fullerene moieties contributes to the stability of the high-order structure. In addition, these particle sizes can be easily controlled by changing pH that results in causing the conformational transition of PLGA segment. Finally, the fullerene-containing nanoparticle is confirmed to be capable of removing the biologically important superoxide radical in comparison with the superoxide dismutase.
Graphical abstract
A pH-responsive, self-organized nanoparticle was successfully constructed by using a conformational transition of the polypeptide segment and tagging fullerene at one chain end. The resultant nanoparticle was confirmed to be capable of removing the biologically important superoxide radical.
Keywords: Peptides; Conformation; Fullerene; Nanoparticle; Self-assembly; Superoxide dismutase mimetic
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