Chaperone-like activity of nanoparticles of hydrophobized poly(vinyl alcohol).

Cavalieri, Francesca; Chiessi, Ester; Paradossi, Gaio · Soft Matter · 2007

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Amphiphilic poly(vinyl alcohol) randomly grafted with hydrophobic methacryloyl groups can form micelle-like particles by intra and interpolymeric association. Self-aggregation behaviour of the hydrophobically-modified polymer was investigated. The hydrophobized nanoparticles assist carbonic anhydrase B (CAB) refolding in a manner similar to the mechanism of molecular chaperones, namely by catching and releasing the protein. Irreversible CAB thermal denaturation is prevented by nanoparticle complexation and recovery of almost 100% of enzymatic activity is triggered by the ability of β-cyclodextrin to interact with the hydrophobic moieties. Structural and functional properties of micelle-like particles were discussed and interpreted in view of the stability and architecture of hydrophobic nanodomains.