Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Mussel-inspired, catechol-functionalized polypeptides were synthesized from natural feedstocks and investigated as redox-active organic electrode materials, to combine electrochemical performance with sustainability and cytocompatibility. Postpolymerization grafting of dopamine onto pre-established poly(α- l -glutamic acid)s resulted in low conjugation, giving poor aqueous solubility and failing to function electrochemically in initial solution-state studies. Therefore, a direct strategy was adopted, whereby the redox-active catechol functionality was embedded into the monomer, followed by ring-opening polymerization to afford a polypeptide bearing a catechol group at each repeat unit. In the solid state, WAXS revealed short-range order, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC) indicated thermal stability and low flammability, and electrochemical evaluation demonstrated a quasi-reversible catechol/ o -quinone aqueous redox process. The composite thin film electrochemical signal intensity was significantly greater for this poly( l -DOPA) than for the original catechol-grafted poly(α- l -glutamic acid). Cell-viability assays further support these catechol-functionalized polypeptides as viable components in sustainable and safe energy storage media.
Source: Biomacromolecules
Institution: Texas A&M University
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Awards: CAS: Synthetic Methodologies to Harness Chemical Diversity of Natural Products for Production of Sustainable Next-generation Macromolecular Materials, G1657896542, G3540950607, Collaborative Research: DMREF: Accelerated Design of Redox-Active Polymers for Metal-Free Batteries, G3982903522, G4570449838, Determination of Fundamental Structure-Topology-Morphology-Properties for Naturally-derived Recyclable Polymer Materials Designed to Address Environmental and Societal Challenges, G52908492, G5408294095, G5806986339, G5968018231
OpenAlex ID: W7140588754