Shlomo Margel
The Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials,
Ramat-Gan 52900
Israel
Research Article
Engineered Narrow Size Distribution High Molecular Weight Proteinoids, Proteinoid-Poly(L-Lactic Acid) Copolymers and Nano/Micro-Hollow
Particles for Biomedical Applications
Author(s): Michal Kolitz-Domb and Shlomo MargelMichal Kolitz-Domb and Shlomo Margel
Proteinoids are unusual polymers formed by thermal condensation of amino acids. Several types of proteinoids made of one to three different amino acids, in absence or presence, of low molecular weight poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), were synthesized. The polymerization kinetics, molecular weights and physical and mechanical properties of these proteinoids were elucidated. The ability to obtain several high-MW durable proteinoids, by using different amino acids as building blocks, along with incorporating PLLA in their structure, yields a new perspective of biodegradable polymers and polymer particles. Under suitable gentle conditions, the proteinoids can self-assemble to form nanoand micron-sized hollow particles of relatively narrow size distribution. This self-assembly process was used for encapsulation of different molecules within the produced proteinoid particles. One of the encapsul.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2157-7439.1000216