Patent ID: 7659365

Claim:
An anionic, linear, amphiphilic homopolyamino acid, wherein its two ends carry hydrophobic groups that are identical to or different from one another; and having one of the general formulae (I), (II), and (III) below: wherein n+m is defined as the degree of polymerization and varies from 3 to 1000; wherein n+m is defined as the degree of polymerization and varies from 3 to 1000; wherein n is defined as the degree of polymerization and varies from 3 to 1000; and wherein: R 1 CO—, R 2 CO—, R 1′ , R 2′ , R 1″ and R 2″ independently are a C8 to C30 hydrophobic group; R 3 is a linear C2 to C6 alkyl group; R 4 is selected from the group consisting of H, a metal cation, an organic cation, a cation based on amino acid(s), and a cationic polyamino acid; R 5 is a C2 to C6 alkyl, dialkoxy or diamine group; A independently is —CH 2 -or —CH 2 —CH2—; and B is a link formed of a direct covalent bond or an amino acid residue of the formula below: wherein R is a radical characteristic of a natural amino acid and selected from the group consisting of H (in which case B is a glycine residue), methyl (in which case B is an alanine residue), isobutyl (in which case B is a leucine residue), isopropyl (in which case B is a valine residue) and CH 2 Ph (in which case B is a phenylalanine residue).