Poly(amidoamine)-BSA conjugates synthesised by Michael addition reaction retained enzymatic activity

Polymer-protein conjugates are key to overcome some of the therapeutic protein limitations, including inefficient intracellular delivery. Poly(amidoamine)s are bioresponsive polyelectrolytes, which can form complexes with proteins and promote their delivery into the cytosol of cells. To investigate if conjugation would affect the activity of the protein, two poly(amidoamine)-BSA conjugates were synthesised using a “grafted to” method and Michael addition reaction. Following purification, the conjugates were characterised by electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography (Mn(C1) = 140.7 kDa ; Mn(C2) = 218.6 kDa) and light scattering (Dh(C1) = 37.5 nm ; Dh(C2) = 75.1 nm). As a result of the conjugation with the cationic polymer, the conjugates had a positive zeta potential (?(C1) = +15.4 mV; ?(C2) = +20.2 mV). TNBS assays demonstrated that 16% to 25% of the protein amine groups were modified and HPLC analysis indicated that the amount of protein in the conjugate was 0.76 mg of BSA/mg of PAA (C1) and 0.43 mg of BSA /mg of PAA (C2). Enzymatic assays indicated the conjugates displayed an esterase activity similar (C1) or reduced ~ 35% (C2) compare to BSA. Altogether the results demonstrated that the conjugation of poly(amidoamine)s to a model protein can lead to the formation of bioconjugates that retain the enzymatic activity of the native protein. Such conjugates could have some application in protein delivery and enzyme engineering for biocatalysis and biosensors

ผลของชนิดและลักษณะโครงสร้างของพอลิเมอร์ต่อคุณสมบัติและการออกฤทธิ์ของพอลิเมอร์-โปรตีนคอนจุเกต

Thesis (Ph.D.,)Pharmaceutical Sciences)--Prince of Songkla University, 200

Dextrin-trypsin and ST-HPMA-trypsin conjugates: Enzyme activity, autolysis and thermal stability

Using monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG)-trypsin conjugates we recently showed that both PEG molecular weight (1100-5000 g/mol) and linker chemistry affect the rate of protein autolysis and thermal stability. These important factors are often overlooked but they can guide the early choice of optimal polymer/chemistry for synthesis of a lead polymer therapeutic suitable for later formulation development. As we are currently developing dextrin- and semi-telechelic poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (ST-HPMA)-protein conjugates as new therapeutics, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of polymer on activity, autolysis and its thermal stability using trypsin conjugates as a model and compare to the data obtained for mPEG conjugates. Trypsin conjugates were first synthesized using succinoylated dextrin (Mw ∼ 8000 g/mol, dextrin I; or ∼61,000 g/mol, dextrin II), and a ST-HPMA-COOH (Mw ∼ 10,100 g/mol). The conjugates had a trypsin content of ∼54, 17 and 3 wt% respectively with <5% free protein. When amidase activity (KM, Vmax and Kcat) was determined by using N-benzoyl-l-arginine p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) as substrate, trypsin KM values were not altered by conjugation, but the Vmax was ∼6-7-fold lower, and the substrate turnover rate (Kcat) decreased by ∼5-7-fold. The dextrin II-trypsin conjugate was more stable than the other conjugates and native trypsin at all temperatures between 30 and 70 °C, and also exhibited improved thermal stability in the autolysis assays at 40 °C. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved