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Abstract

The present invention is directed to the use of artificial polymers in the mimetization of enzymatic active sites and the carrying-out of catalysis using these artificial enzymes. Further, as used herein, an artificial enzyme refers more generally to a polymer-based scaffold for presenting specific chemically active atoms optimally for reactions, not just those that mimic natural enzymes. Various polymers can be used for this mimetization, including polyimides, polyurea, polyurethane, polyacrylic acid, and polylactic acid, as well as other polymers having properties and functionality that enable integration with natural and artificial amino acids, other molecules having nucleophilic and electrophilic groups (akin to the amine and carboxyl functionalities, respectively, of amino acids), as well as other molecules contributing unique chemical abilities not usually associated with the orthogonal functions inherent in most amino acids, i.e., amines, carboxyls, formamides, hydroxyls, mercaptyls and saturated hydrocarbons.

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First Claim