Designing Peptides for Multiphase Complex Coacervation

Presenter

Ethan Arden Rivers

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Sarah L. Perry, Department of Chemical Engineering, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 4, 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A72, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 4 (A61-A80) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

            Complex coacervation is a liquid-liquid phase separation driven by the electrostatic and entropic complexation of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. One can create distinct complex coacervates from combinations of polymers with different chemistries, such that if the two sets of droplets were to mix, they would remain distinct, as multiphase coacervates. Currently, scientific knowledge is limited with respect to the formation and phase behavior of multiphase coacervates. As a result, we are proposing the creation of multiphase coacervates using peptides in order to better understand their physical characteristics. Our research is centered on forming coacervates using either poly(α-lysine) or poly(ε-lysine) in complex with poly(glutamate). α-lysine and ε-lysine are isomers of each other, but create polymers with different charge spacing. We are trying to determine whether this difference in the electrostatic interactions could lead to a large enough difference in properties to facilitate multiphase coacervation.

            In lab, we have used different Fmoc/Boc protecting groups during solid-phase peptide synthesis to obtain the two different isomers of poly(lysine). The poly(lysine) was mixed with poly(glutamate), and the resulting coacervates were characterized using a well plate reader and optical microscopy.

            As we move forward, we hope to understand the parameters that allow for the creation of multiphase coacervates. Ultimately, our goal is to devise strategies for understanding the phase behavior of coacervation and learn how to modulate the physical properties of coacervates for applications in protein encapsulation.

Keywords

Coacervates, Protein encapsulation, ε-lysine, Multiphase coacervation, Peptide synthesis

Research Area

Chemistry and Materials Science

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