Advances in the mechanism and application of polyamino acids in the bone repair
10.3760/cma.j.cn121113-20250212-00130
- VernacularTitle:聚氨基酸在骨修复过程中的作用机制与应用进展
- Author:
Zhengyang CHANG
1
;
Jiaqi XIN
;
Ming LI
;
Licheng ZHANG
Author Information
1. 解放军总医院第四医学中心骨科医学部，北京 100048
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Amino acids;
Polymers;
Poly(amino acid);
Bone repair;
Bone defect
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics
2025;45(20):1348-1354
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Poly amino acids are a class of polymers composed of α-amino acids as structural units linked by peptide bonds, exhibiting structural similarity to natural proteins. This class can be degraded into polypeptides, amino acids, and small molecules, demonstrating unique advantages in the field of bone repair. Various functionalized amino acid monomers and their polymerization methods have been developed, primarily including ring-opening polymerization, polycondensation, enzymatic catalysis, and solid-phase synthesis. These methods enable the polymerization of poly glutamic acid, poly lysine, poly aspartic acid, and others into polypeptides to meet the requirements for bone injury repair. However, as the number of amino acids increases and the polypeptide chains extend, molecular chains can form secondary structures such as α-helices and β-sheets through non-covalent interactions like hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. These structures play a decisive role in the bioactivity and functionality of poly(amino acid). Therefore, the function of poly(amino acid) is highly dependent on its monomer composition, sequence, secondary structure, and charge characteristics, allowing precise design to effectively regulate biological effects. Nevertheless, the major challenges in applying poly (amino acid) to bone defect repair remain unresolved, namely scalable production and long-term safety and efficacy. It is believed that, with interdisciplinary integration, a new generation of poly(amino acid) materials, combining excellent properties, bioactivity, and smart-responsive traits, is expected to advance bone repair strategies toward precision, personalization, and efficiency.
