For more information contact Patty Kofron at pkofron@wustl.edu

ABSTRACT Synthetic polypeptides provide the basis for new biomacromolecules that can be modified to achieve a broad range of bio-logically relevant function. We have designed poly(propargyl-L-glutamate) (PPLG) synthetic polypeptides to which different molecules can be “clicked” to achieve dense brush polypeptide back-bone structures. A unique aspect of these new amine-functionalized polypeptides is the ability to buffer, and in some cas-es, change solubility with degree of ioniza-tion, over biologically relevant pHs. These polymers are PPLG homopolymers and poly(ethylene glycol (PEG-b-PPLG)

block copoly-mers substitut-ed with vari-ous amine moi-eties that range in pKa and hy-drophobicity. These systems can be further functionalized

to target specific cells, and make unique nanoscale drug carriers for system-ic delivery in applications such as targeted cancer chemotherapy. PPLG and similar polypeptides subsequently introduced have enabled a broad range of new ap-proaches to designing artificial polypep-tide systems with properties that engage or mimic biology and enable new bio-materials systems. On the other hand, interesting new biological macromolecules can be engineered from nucleic ac-ids. Newer synthetic methods in our labor-atory include the use of rolling circle tran-scription to create periodic-shRNA (pshRNA) consisting of hundreds of repeat units that spontaneously assemble into RNAi microsponges. We have found that these polymeric forms of siRNA can yield activation of immunological pathways that facilitate further tumor cell death, while also inducing knockdown of targeted genes. Applications of these systems to-ward active or responsive drug delivery applications will be discussed.

Functionalizable Polypeptides & Polymeric siRNA Smart Delivery

Paula T. Hammond, Koch Chair Professor of Engineering,

Department Head of Chemical Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

EECE Department Seminar

Friday, September 21, 2018

11:00am

Brauer Hall, Room 12

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Professor Paula T. Hammond is the David H. Koch Chair Professor of Engineering at the Massa-chusetts Institute of Technology, and the Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering. She is a member of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, the MIT Energy Initiative, and a founding member of the MIT Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology. Her research in nano-medicine encompasses the development of new biomaterials to enable drug delivery from sur-faces with spatio-temporal control. She also investigates novel responsive polymer architectures for targeted nanoparticle drug and gene delivery, and has developed self-assembled materials systems for electrochemical energy devices.