Thermoresponsive semitelechelic polymers containing single terminal cysteine derivatives including a Cys-Gly-OH dipeptide

The thermoresponsive semitelechelic polymers containing single terminal cysteine derivatives which include a Cys-Gly-OH dipeptide employed in biotechnology or drug delivery, were investigated. Chain transfer polymerization with cysteine derivatives including a cysteine containing dipeptide yielded 24-74% polymer-peptide-conjugates linked by sulfur atom bridge. The polymer yield decreased with increasing molecular weight but the average chain length remained in a comparable range. The results show that if the mass percentage of 4.4-10.6% of the terminal group increases, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) also increases.