Grafting Short Peptides onto Polybutadiene-block-poly(ethylene oxide): A Platform for Self-Assembling Hybrid Amphiphiles

A Guideline for the Synthesis of Amino-Acid-Functionalized Monomers and Their Polymerizations

Amino acids have emerged as a sustainable source for the design of functional polymers. Besides their wide availability, especially their high degree of biocompatibility makes them appealing for a broad range of applications in the biomedical research field. In addition to these favorable characteristics, the versatility of reactive functional groups in amino acids (i.e., carboxylic acids, amines, thiols, and hydroxyl groups) makes them suitable starting materials for various polymerization approaches, which include step- and chain-growth reactions. This review aims to provide an overview of strategies to incorporate amino acids into polymers. To this end, it focuses on the preparation of polymerizable monomers from amino acids, which yield main chain or side chain-functionalized polymers. Furthermore, postpolymerization modification approaches for polymer side chain functionalization are discussed. Amino acids are presented as a versatile platform for the development of polymers with tailored properties.

Core functionalization of semi-crystalline polymeric cylindrical nanoparticles using photo-initiated thiol-ene radical reactions

Sequential ring-opening and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was used to form a triblock copolymer of tetrahydropyran acrylate (THPA), 5-methyl-5-allyloxycarbonyl-1,3-dioxan-2-one (MAC) and l-lactide. Concurrent deprotection of the THPA block and crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) was undertaken and allowed for the formation of cylindrical micelles bearing allyl handles in a short outer core segment. These handles were further functionalized by different thiols using photo-initiated thiol-ene radical reactions to demonstrate that the incorporation of an amorphous PMAC block within the core does not disrupt CDSA and can be used to load the cylindrical nanoparticles with cargo.