Poly(2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate) (PDMAEA) is a promising charge-shifting polycation with the capacity to form a range of morphologically distinct polyelectrolyte assemblies. Nevertheless, the basic character of the monomer and its hydrolytic instability impedes its controlled synthesis to higher molecular weight (MW). Herein, the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of DMAEA is reported using a tert-butanol/V70 initiator/trithiocarbonate-based chain transfer agent (CTA) polymerization setup. The CTA instability is demonstrated in the presence of the unprotonated tertiary amino group of the DMAEA monomer, which limits the control over the conversion and MW of the polymer. In contrast, the shielding of the amino groups by their protonation leads to polymerization with high conversions and excellent control over MWs of polymer up to 100 000 g mol-1. Hydrolytic degradation study at pH values ranging from 5 to 9 reveals that both basic and protonated PDMAEA undergo a pH-dependent hydrolysis. The proposed polymerization conditions provide a means of synthesizing PDMAEA with well-controlled characteristics, which are beneficial for controlling the complexation processes during the formation of various polyelectrolyte assemblies.

• Klíčová slova
• DMAEA, RAFT polymerization, charge‐shifting polymer, hydrolysis, polycation,
• MeSH
• akryláty * chemie   chemická syntéza   MeSH
• hydrolýza MeSH
• koncentrace vodíkových iontů MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• molekulová hmotnost MeSH
• polymerizace MeSH
• polymery * chemie   chemická syntéza   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• akryláty * MeSH
• polymery * MeSH

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) using monoclonal antibodies against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is the treatment of choice for cancer immunotherapy. However, low tissue permeability, immunogenicity, immune-related adverse effects, and high cost could be possibly improved using alternative approaches. On the other hand, synthetic low-molecular-weight (LMW) PD-1/PD-L1 blockers have failed to progress beyond in vitro studies, mostly due to low binding affinity or poor pharmacological characteristics resulting from their limited solubility and/or stability. Here, we report the development of polymer-based anti-human PD-L1 antibody mimetics (α-hPD-L1 iBodies) by attaching the macrocyclic peptide WL12 to a N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymer. We characterized the binding properties of iBodies using surface plasmon resonance, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and a cellular ICB model. We found that the α-hPD-L1 iBodies specifically target human PD-L1 (hPD-L1) and block the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction in vitro, comparable to the atezolizumab, durvalumab, and avelumab licensed monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-L1. Our findings suggest that iBodies can be used as experimental tools to target hPD-L1 and could serve as a platform to potentiate the therapeutic effect of hPD-L1-targeting small molecules by improving their affinity and pharmacokinetic properties.

• Klíčová slova
• HPMA copolymer, PD-1, PD-L1, T-cell, antibody mimetic, immune checkpoint, immunosuppression, immunotherapy, inhibitor, tumor immunology,
• MeSH
• antigeny CD274 * antagonisté a inhibitory   imunologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• inhibitory kontrolních bodů * farmakologie   chemie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monoklonální protilátky chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• polymery chemie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antigeny CD274 * MeSH
• CD274 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• inhibitory kontrolních bodů * MeSH
• monoklonální protilátky MeSH
• polymery MeSH