Investigation on the controlled synthesis and post-modification of poly-[(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-aspartamide]-based polymers

The production of poly-[(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-aspartamide] (PHEA)-based materials is hampered by the unsatisfactory synthesis and low reactivity in terms of post-modification. Herein, we report the controlled synthesis of PHEA-based polymers, unraveled the hydrogen bonding in PHEA, developed effective approaches to enhance the reactivity of PHEA by improving the temperature, and further demonstrated the desired aqueous solubility as well as the lyophilization stability of PHEA-based amphiphiles. This study will provide insights into the design of useful and functionalized polypeptide-based biomaterials.