Glycosylated star polypeptides from NCA polymerization: selective binding as a function of degree of branching and glycosylation.

Star-shaped polypeptides were synthesized via N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerization initiated from various generations of PPI dendrimers. Molecular weight, arm length, and arm density were readily controlled to afford a series of star-shaped poly(glutamic acid) derivatives. Glycosylation of star-shaped poly(glutamic acid) resulted in the formation of a diverse range of glycopolypeptide architectures with tuneable degree of sugar conjugation. The secondary structure of the branched glycopolypeptides was studied as a function of the degree glycosylation. The bioactivity of the described glycopoly-peptides toward the lectin ConA was investigated and was shown to be architecture dependent.