Polypeptides synthesized via N-carboxyanhydride ring-opening polymerization (NCA-ROP) represent a class of biomaterials with significant application potential. Although they cannot fully replicate the structural and functional complexity of natural polypeptides and proteins, the continuous development of catalytic strategies to accelerate NCA-ROP in recent years has enabled researchers to fully exploit the tunable secondary structures, degradability, and biocompatibility of polypeptides. By combining various polymerization and coupling methods, researchers integrate them with other materials to efficiently construct novel hybrid materials possessing unique properties and functions.
The research team from Hunan University, focusing on strategies for catalyzing and accelerating NCA-ROP polypeptide synthesis, explored the feasibility and convenience of integrating the rapid and controllable NCA-ROP process into composite material preparation under the action of catalysts or autocatalytic effects. They also reviewed several types and application examples of integrating synthetic polypeptides and their properties into functional composites. This review article summarizes the current challenges in using catalytic accelerated NCA-ROP technology as a tool to construct composites, while also outlining the broad prospects it offers for diversifying composites and realizing functional applications. This article provides new insights and ideas for the advancement of catalytic NCA polymerization technology and the development and application of novel composite materials.