Proteins are the quintessential well-designed macromolecules – functional, specific, biodegradable, and biocompatible. They have been modified with other macromolecules since at least 1952, as researchers have made attempts to immobilize, stabilize, or tune their properties. In this perspective, we discuss the history of protein-polymer conjugates (PPCs), the strategies and challenges in synthesizing, analyzing, and understanding them, and we highlight some exciting works that showcase the capabilities of PPCs when rationally designed using the vast array of polymers and architectures made possible by advances in precision polymerization techniques.

蛋白质是精心设计的典型大分子，具有功能性，特异性，可生物降解性和生物相容性。自从至少1952年以来，由于研究人员已试图固定，稳定或调节其特性，它们已被其他大分子修饰。从这个角度出发，我们讨论了蛋白质-聚合物共轭物（PPC）的历史，合成，分析和理解它们的策略和挑战，并且我们着重介绍了一些激动人心的作品，这些作品展示了当使用大量PPC进行合理设计时，PPC的功能。精密聚合技术的发展使聚合物和结构成为可能。