PEGylated click polypeptides synthesized by copper-free microwave-assisted thermal click polymerization for selective endotoxin removal from protein solutions

Abstract

PEGylated click polypeptides (PEG-CPs) containing α-amino side groups as well as PEG segments are designed for selective endotoxin removal from protein solutions. The PEG-CPs are synthesized via copper-free thermal click copolymerization from aspartic (or glutamic) acid-based dialkyne and diazide monomers (containing free amino side groups) and alkyne-terminated mPEGs or dialkyne-terminated PEGs. Microwave-assisting technology is introduced into thermal click chemistry to improve the reaction efficiency. The monomers and polymers are fully characterized using NMR, XPS, and MALDI-TOF MS. After immobilizing the PEGylated click polypeptides onto polystyrene microspheres, the adsorbents exhibit good endotoxin removal selectivity from BSA solutions.