Turning peptides in comb silicone polymers

ABSTRACT

We have recently reported on a new class of silicone-peptide biopolymers obtained by polymerization of di-functionalized chlorodimethylsilyl hybrid peptides. Herein we describe a related strategy based on dichloromethylsilane-derived peptides, which yields novel polymers with a polysiloxane backbone, comparable to a silicone bearing pendent peptide chains. Interestingly, polymerization is chemoselective towards amino acids side-chains, proceeds in a single step in very mild conditions (neutral pH, water, room temperature). As potential application, a cationic sequence was polymerized and used an antibacterial coating.