Streptavidin as a Macroinitiator for Polymerization: In Situ Protein-Polymer Conjugate Formation

摘要

We report a versatile new strategy to prepare protein conjugates with synthetic polymers using modified SAv as an initiator for the polymerization of NIPAAm. We demonstrated that the protein is quantitatively modified with polymer and that the resulting polymer is conjugated to the SAv at the biotin binding sites only. Streptavidin retains its bioactivity after subjection to polymerization; no monomeric subunits were observed, and the protein still binds biotin. This straightforward approach can be applied to a variety of monomers, including the biologically relevant PEGMA. The extension of this technique to other proteins is currently being explored.