Abstract
The group II chaperonin thermosome (THS) from the archaea Thermoplasma acidophilum is reported as nanoreactor for atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A copper catalyst was entrapped into the THS to confine the polymerization into this protein cage. THS possesses pores that are wide enough to release polymers into solution. The nanoreactor favorably influenced the polymerization of Nisopropyl acrylamide and poly(ethylene glycol)methylether acrylate. Narrowly dispersed polymers with polydispersity indices (PDIs) down to 1.06 were obtained in the protein nanoreactor, while control reactions with a globular protein- catalyst conjugate only yielded polymers with PDIs above 1.84.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1443-1447 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Angewandte Chemie - International Edition |
Volume | 53 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 27 Jan 2014 |
Keywords
- chaperone proteins
- controlled/living radical polymerization
- nanoreactor
- polymerization
- thermosome