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Complex formation of pendant lysine residue-containing zwitterionic random copolymer with copper (II)

Polymer Journal volume 55, pages 1075–1083 (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

Excess copper accumulation in the body can lead to various health complications including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, gastrointestinal disorders, liver damage, and hemolytic anemia. As such, the development of effective strategies to remove excess copper is critical for preventing these adverse health outcomes. In this study, a copolymer (P(MPC/LysA)) comprising 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and l-lysinylacrylamide (LysA) was synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization. Under different pH conditions, the pendant primary amine (–NH3+) and carboxy groups (–COOH) of LysA underwent protonation and deprotonation, resulting in cationic, zwitterionic, and anionic structures. The copolymer exhibited a zwitterionic structure under physiological conditions due to the pH-independent neutral charge of MPC. The LysA residues formed a complex with copper (II) ions (Cu2+) under neutral-basic conditions, with two pendant l-lysine residues forming a complex with one Cu2+ molecule. The addition of Cu2+ to an aqueous solution of P(MPC/LysA) at pH 7.4 resulted in the formation of interpolymer aggregates due to Cu2+/LysA complex formation. Overall, this study reveals that P(MPC/LysA) has potential for use in removing excess Cu2+ in the body by forming water-soluble aggregates with Cu2+ at physiological pH.

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Acknowledgements

This research was partially supported by KAKENHI grants (21H02005, 21H05027, 23H04088) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), JSPS Bilateral Joint Research Projects (JPJSBP12022359, JPJSBP120203510), the Cooperative Research Program of “Network Joint Research Center for Materials and Devices (20234041),” and MEXT Promotion of Distinctive Joint Research Center Program (JPMXP 0621467946).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Hyogo, 2167 Shoshal, Himeji, Hyogo, 671-2280, Japan

    Kengo Takagi, Shukanta Bhowmik & Shin-ichi Yusa

  2. Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering, National Central University, Jhong-Li, Taoyuan, 320, Taiwan

    Kang-Ting Huang & Chun-Jen Huang

  3. Department of Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-kull, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8603, Japan

    Rintaro Takahashi

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  1. Kengo Takagi
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Correspondence to Shin-ichi Yusa.

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Takagi, K., Bhowmik, S., Huang, KT. et al. Complex formation of pendant lysine residue-containing zwitterionic random copolymer with copper (II). Polym J 55, 1075–1083 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-023-00808-2

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