Highly Tailorable Materials based on 2-Vinyl-4,4-dimethyl Azlactone: (Co)Polymerization, Synthetic Manipulation and Characterization

Shear-thinning hydrogel for allograft cell transplantation and externally controlled transgene expression

This work establishes the design of a fully synthetic, shear-thinning hydrogel platform that is injectable and can isolate engineered, allogeneic cell therapies from the host. We utilized RAFT to generate a library of linear random copolymers of N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) and 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethyl azlactone (VDMA) with variable mol% VDMA and degree of polymerization. Poly(DMA-co-VDMA) copolymers were subsequently modified with either adamantane (Ad) or β-cyclodextrin (Cd) through amine-reactive VDMA to prepare hydrogel precursor macromers containing complementary guest-host pairing pendant groups that, when mixed, form shear-thinning hydrogels. Rheometric evaluation of the hydrogel library enabled identification of lead macromer structures comprising 15 mol% pendants (Ad or Cd) and a degree of polymerization of 1000; mixing of these Ad and Cd functionalized precursors yielded hydrogels possessing storage modulus above 1000 Pa, tan(δ) values below 1 and high yield strain, which are target characteristics of robust but injectable shear-thinning gels. This modular system proved amenable to nanoparticle integration with surface-modified nanoparticles displaying Ad. The addition of the Ad-functionalized nanoparticles simultaneously improved mechanical properties of the hydrogels and enabled extended hydrogel retention of a model small molecule in vivo. In studies benchmarking against alginate, a material traditionally used for cell encapsulation, the lead hydrogel showed significantly less fibrous encapsulation in a subcutaneous implant site. Finally, this platform was utilized to encapsulate and extend in vivo longevity of inducible transgene-engineered mesenchymal stem cells in an allogeneic transplant model. The hydrogels remained intact and blocked infiltration by host cells, consequently extending the longevity of grafted cell function relative to a benchmark, shear-thinning hyaluronic acid-based gel. In sum, the new synthetic, shear-thinning hydrogel system presented here shows potential for further development as an injectable platform for delivery and in situ drug modulation of allograft and engineered cell therapies.

Comparative Investigation of the Hydrolysis of Charge-Shifting Polymers Derived from an Azlactone-Based Polymer

Poly 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone (PVDMA) has received much attention as a "reactive platform" to prepare charge-shifting polycations via post-polymerization modification with tertiary amines that possess primary amine or hydroxyl reactive handles. Upon hydrolysis of the resulting amide or ester linkages, the polymers can undergo a gradual transition in net charge from cationic to anionic. Herein, a systematic investigation of the hydrolysis rate of PVDMA-derived charge-shifting polymers is described. PVDMA is modified with tertiary amines bearing either primary amine, hydroxyl, or thiol reactive handles. The resulting polymers possess tertiary amine side chains connected to the backbone via amide, ester, or thioester linkages. The hydrolysis rates of each PVDMA derivative are monitored at 25 and 50 °C at pH values of 5.5, 7.5, and 8.5, respectively. While the hydrolysis rate of the amide-functionalized PVDMA is negligible over the period investigated, the hydrolysis rates of the ester- and thioester-functionalized PVDMA increase with increasing temperature and pH. Interestingly, the hydrolysis rate of the thioester-functionalized PVDMA appears to be more rapid than the ester-functionalized PVDMA at all pH values and temperatures investigated. It is believed that these results can be utilized to inform the future preparation of PVDMA-based charge-shifting polymers for biomedical applications.

Tailoring Azlactone-Based Block Copolymers for Stimuli-Responsive Disassembly of Nanocarriers

Stimuli-responsive nanoparticles based on a reactive block copolymers (BCPs) of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone) (PEG-b-PVDMA) have been fabricated for loading and controlled release of molecular cargoes. Microphase segregation of PEG-b-PVDMA BCPs enables the construction of well-defined nanoparticles in aqueous solutions. The azlactone groups in VDMA repeat units offer active sites for hydrophilization of the BCPs and functionalization by primary amines. The hydrophilization of PEG-b-PVDMA BCPs induces gradual reconstruction and dissociation of the BCP nanoparticles. Functional primary amines can be conjugated to PEG-b-PVDMA BCPs, yielding azobenzene- and pyridine-containing BCPs. The self-assembled nanoparticles made from the functionalized BCPs can disassemble in response to different external stimuli (e.g., addition of β-cyclodextrin and pH changes). The gradual reconstruction of functionalized PEG-b-PVDMA BCP nanoparticles caused by hydrolysis of residual azlactone groups provides a novel method to engineer sub-50 nm, well-dispersed, stimuli-responsive nanoparticles. These nanoparticles can incorporate molecular cargoes and release them upon external stimuli, making the azlactone-containing BCPs attractive platforms for the development of controlled delivery vehicles.

Influence of Core Cross-Linking and Shell Composition of Polymeric Micelles on Immune Response and Their Interaction with Human Monocytes

Block copolymer micelles have received increasing attention in the last decades, in particular for their appealing properties in nanomedicine. However, systematic investigations of the interaction between polymeric micelles and immune cells are still rare. Therefore, broader studies comparing the structural effects remain inevitable for a comprehensive understanding of the immune response and for the design of efficient, nonimmunogenic delivery systems. Here, we present novel block copolymer micelles with the same hydrophobic core, based on a copolymer of BA and VDM, and various hydrophilic shells ranging from common PEG derivatives to morpholine-based materials. The influence of these shells on innate immune responses was studied in detail. In addition, we investigated the impact of micelle stability by varying the cross-linking density in the micellar core. Surprisingly, whereas different shells had only a minor impact on immune response, micelles with reduced cross-linking density considerably enhanced the release of cytokines from isolated human monocytes. Moreover, the uptake of non-cross-linked micelles by monocytes was significantly higher as compared to cross-linked materials. Our study emphasizes the importance of the micellar stability on the interaction with the immune system, which is the key for any stealth properties in vivo. Polymers based on morpholines result in a similar low response as the PEG derivative and may represent an interesting alternative to the common PEGylation.

Structural effect of oxazolone derivatives on the initiating abilities of dye-borate photoredox systems in radical polymerization under visible light

Three photoinitiating systems based on new oxazolone derivatives have been developed and their performance in initiation of radical polymerization of acrylate monomers has been tested by differential scanning calorimetry. The absorption characteristics of the oxazol-5(4H)-ones is compatible with the emission characteristics of different light sources like diode pulse solid state lasers. Thus, the dyes were used as sensitizers which are photoreduced during a photochemical reaction in the presence of phenyltriethylborate salt. Results showed that the increase in the dimensionality of the molecule extends the range of light absorption and increases the efficiency of the photoinitiation process. The photoreduction of the oxazolone–borate complex was studied using steady-state and nanosecond laser flash photolysis. The dye singlet and triplet were found to be quenched by the electron donor via an electron transfer process. Rate constants for the quenching of the excited states were high and were found to depend on the dye structure.

Three photoinitiating systems based on new oxazolone derivatives have been developed and their performance in initiation of radical polymerization of acrylate monomers has been tested by differential scanning calorimetry.

An optimised Cu(0)-RDRP approach for the synthesis of lipidated oligomeric vinyl azlactone: toward a versatile antimicrobial materials screening platform

This report details the synthesis of lipidated 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethyl-5-oxazolone (VDM) oligomers via an optimised Cu(0)-mediated reversible-deactivation radical polymerisation approach, and the use of these oligomers as a versatile functional platform for the rapid generation of antimicrobial materials. The relative amounts of CuBr₂ and Me₆TREN were optimised to allow the fast and controlled polymerisation of VDM. These conditions were then used with the initiators ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, dodecyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, and (R)-3-((2-bromo-2-methylpropanoyl)oxy)propane-1,2-diyl didodecanoate to synthesise a library of oligo(VDM) (degree of polymerisation = 10) with ethyl, dodecyl or diglyceride end-groups. Subsequently, ring-opening of the pendant oxazolone group with various amines (i.e., 2-(2-aminoethyl)-1,3-di-Boc-guanidine, 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole, N-Boc-ethylenediamine, or N,N-dimethylethylenediamine) expanded the library to give 12 functional oligomers incorporating different cationic and lipid elements. The antimicrobial activities of these oligomers were assessed against a palette of bacteria and fungi: i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans. The oligomers generally exhibited the greatest activity against the fungus, C. neoformans, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1 μg mL^-1 (comparable to the clinically approved antifungal fluconazole). To assess haemocompatibility, the oligomers were assayed against erythrocytes, with the primary amine or guanidine containing C₁₂ and 2C₁₂ oligomers exhibiting greater lysis against the red blood cells (HC₁₀ values between 7.1 and 43 μg mL^-1) than their imidazole and tertiary amine counterparts (HC₁₀ of >217 μg mL^-1). Oligomers showed the greatest selectivity for C. neoformans, with the C₁₂- and 2C₁₂-tertiary amine and C₁₂-imidazole oligomers possessing the greatest selectivity of >54-109. These results demonstrate the utility of reactive oligomers for rapidly assessing structure-property relationships for antibacterial and antifungal materials.

Combinatorial approaches in post-polymerization modification for rational development of therapeutic delivery systems

The combinatorial polymer library approach has been proven to be effective for the optimization of therapeutic delivery systems. The library of polymers with chemical diversity has been synthesized by (i) polymerization of functionalized monomers or (ii) post-polymerization modification of reactive polymers. Most scientists have followed the first approach so far, and the second method has emerged as a versatile approach for combinatorial biomaterials discovery. This review focuses on the second approach, especially discussing the post-modifications that employ reactive polymers as templates for combinatorial synthesis of a library of functional polymers with distinct structural diversity or a combination of different functionalities. In this way, the functional polymers have a consistent chain length and distribution, which allows for systematic optimization of therapeutic delivery polymers for the efficient delivery of genes, small-molecule drugs, and protein therapeutics. In this review, the modification of representative reactive polymers for the delivery of different therapeutic payloads are summarized. The recent advances in rational design and optimization of therapeutic delivery systems based on reactive polymers are highlighted. This review ends with a summary of the current achievements and the prospect on future directions in applying the approach of post-polymerization modification of polymers to accelerate the development of therapeutic delivery systems.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

A strategy to rationally design and systematically optimize polymers for the efficient delivery of specific therapeutics is highly needed. The combinatorial polymer library approach could be an effective way to this end. The post-polymerization modification of reactive polymer precursors is applicable for the combinatorial synthesis of a library of functional polymers with distinct structural diversity across a consistent degree of polymerization. This allows for parallel comparison and systematic evaluation/optimization of functional polymers for efficient therapeutic delivery. This review summarizes the key elements of this combinatorial polymer synthesis approach realized by post-polymerization modification of reactive polymer precursors towards the development and identification of optimal polymers for the efficient delivery of therapeutic agents.

Amine-Reactive Azlactone-Containing Nanofibers for the Immobilization and Patterning of New Functionality on Nanofiber-Based Scaffolds

We report the design of amine-reactive polymer nanofibers and nonwoven reactive nanofiber mats fabricated by the electrospinning of azlactone-functionalized polymers. We demonstrate that randomly oriented nanofibers fabricated using a random copolymer of methyl methacrylate and 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone contain intact and reactive azlactone groups that can be used to introduce new chemical functionality and modulate important interfacial properties of these materials (e.g., wetting behaviors) by postfabrication treatment with primary amine-based nucleophiles. The facile and "click-like" nature of these reactions permits functionalization under mild conditions without substantial changes to nanofiber or mat morphologies. This approach also enables the patterning of new functionality on mat-coated surfaces by treatment with bulk solutions of primary amines or by using methods such as microcontact printing. Further, these reactive mats can also, themselves, be contact-transferred or "printed" onto secondary surfaces by pressing them into contact with other amine-functionalized objects. Finally, we demonstrate that functionalization with hydrophobic amines can increase the stability of these materials in aqueous environments and yield hydrophobic nanofiber scaffolds useful for the design of "slippery" liquid-infused materials. The approaches reported here enable the introduction of new properties to reactive polymer mats after fabrication and, thus, reduce the need to synthesize individual functional polymers prior to electrospinning to achieve new properties. The azlactone chemistry used here broadens the scope of reactions that can be used to functionalize polymer nanofibers and is likely to prove general. We anticipate that this approach can be used with a range of amines or other nucleophiles (e.g., alcohols or thiols) to design nanofibers and reactive nanofiber-based materials with new physical properties, surface features, and behaviors that may be difficult to achieve by the direct electrospinning of conventional materials or other functional polymers.

Degradable Amine-Reactive Coatings Fabricated by the Covalent Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone) with Degradable Polyamine Building Blocks

We report the fabrication of reactive and degradable cross-linked polymer multilayers by the reactive/covalent layer-by-layer assembly of a non-degradable azlactone-functionalized polymer [poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone), PVDMA] with hydrolytically or enzymatically degradable polyamine building blocks. Fabrication of multilayers using PVDMA and a hydrolytically degradable poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) containing primary amine side chains yielded multilayers (∼100 nm thick) that degraded over ∼12 days in physiologically relevant media. Physicochemical characterization and studies on stable films fabricated using PVDMA and an analogous non-degradable poly(amidoamine) suggested that erosion occurred by chemical hydrolysis of backbone esters in the PBAE components of these assemblies. These degradable assemblies also contained residual amine-reactive azlactone functionality that could be used to impart new functionality to the coatings post-fabrication. Cross-linked multilayers fabricated using PVDMA and the enzymatically degradable polymer poly(l-lysine) were structurally stable for prolonged periods in physiological media, but degraded over ∼24 h when the enzyme trypsin was added. Past studies demonstrate that multilayers fabricated using PVDMA and non-degradable polyamines [e.g., poly(ethylenimine)] enable the design and patterning of useful nano/biointerfaces and other materials that are structurally stable in physiological media. The introduction of degradable functionality into PVDMA-based multilayers creates opportunities to exploit the reactivity of azlactone groups for the design of reactive materials and functional coatings that degrade or erode in environments that are relevant in biomedical, biotechnological, and environmental contexts. This "degradable building block" strategy should be general; we anticipate that this approach can also be extended to the design of amine-reactive multilayers that degrade upon exposure to specific chemical triggers, selective enzymes, or contact with cells by judicious design of the degradable polyamine building blocks used to fabricate the coatings.

Polyethylene Glycol Coatings on Plastic Substrates for Chemically Defined Stem Cell Culture

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are a widely available and clinically relevant cell type with a host of applications in regenerative medicine. Current clinical expansion methods can lead to selective changes in hMSC phenotype potentially resulting from relatively undefined cell culture surfaces. Chemically defined synthetic surfaces can aid in understanding the influence of cell-material interactions on stem cell behavior. Here, a thin copolymer coating for hMSC culture on plastic substrates is developed. The random copolymer is synthesized by living free radical polymerization and characterized in solution before application to the substrate, ensuring a homogeneous coating and limiting the sample-to-sample variations. The ability to coat multiple substrate types and cover large surface areas is reported. Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides are incorporated into the coating under aqueous conditions via their lysine or cysteine side chains, resulting in amide and thioester linkages, respectively. Stability studies show amide linkages to be stable and thioester linkages to be labile under standard serum-containing culture conditions. In addition, chemically defined passaging of hMSCs using only ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid on polystyrene dishes is shown. After passage, the hMSCs can be seeded back onto the same plate, indicating potential reusability of the coating.

RAFT-prepared α-difunctional poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone)s and their derivatives: synthesis and effect of end-groups on aqueous inverse temperature solubility

Five R-group di-functional dithiobenzoates have been prepared and used in the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone.

Enhanced lubrication on tissue and biomaterial surfaces through peptide-mediated binding of hyaluronic acid

Lubrication is key for the efficient function of devices and tissues with moving surfaces, such as articulating joints, ocular surfaces and the lungs. Indeed, lubrication dysfunction leads to increased friction and degeneration of these systems. Here, we present a polymer-peptide surface coating platform to non-covalently bind hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural lubricant in the body. Tissue surfaces treated with the HA-binding system exhibited higher lubricity values, and in vivo were able to retain HA in the articular joint and to bind ocular tissue surfaces. Biomaterials-mediated strategies that locally bind and concentrate HA could provide physical and biological benefits when used to treat tissue-lubricating dysfunction and to coat medical devices.

ROMP (co)polymers with pendent alkyne side groups: post-polymerization modification employing thiol–yne and CuAAC coupling chemistries

The synthesis of a series of copolymers via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) containing pendent trimethylsilyl-protected alkyne functional groups is described.

Fabrication of oligonucleotide and protein arrays on rigid and flexible substrates coated with reactive polymer multilayers

We report a top-down approach to the fabrication of oligonucleotide and protein arrays on surfaces coated with ultrathin, amine-reactive polymer multilayers fabricated by the covalent "layer-by-layer" (LbL) assembly of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and the amine-reactive, azlactone-functionalized polymer poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone) (PVDMA). Manual spotting of amine-terminated oligonucleotide probe sequences on planar glass slides coated with PEI/PVDMA multilayers (~35 nm thick) yielded arrays of immobilized probes that hybridized fluorescently labeled complementary sequences with high signal intensities, high signal-to-noise ratios, and high sequence specificity. Treatment of residual azlactone functionality with the nonfouling small-molecule amine d-glucamine resulted in regions between the features of these arrays that resisted adsorption of protein and permitted hybridization in complex media containing up to 10 mg/mL protein. The residual azlactone groups in these films were also exploited to immobilize proteins on film-coated surfaces and fabricate functional arrays of proteins and enzymes. The ability to deposit PEI/PVDMA multilayers on substrates of arbitrary size, shape, and composition permitted the fabrication of arrays of oligonucleotides on the surfaces of multilayer-coated sheets of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and heat-shrinkable polymer film. Arrays fabricated on these flexible plastic substrates can be bent, cut, resized, and manipulated physically in ways that are difficult using more conventional rigid substrates. This approach could thus contribute to the development of new assay formats and new applications of biomolecule arrays. The methods described here are straightforward to implement, do not require access to specialized equipment, and should also be compatible with automated liquid-handling methods used to fabricate higher-density arrays of oligonucleotides and proteins on more traditional surfaces.

Highly efficient ring-opening reaction of azlactone-based copolymer platforms for the design of functionalized materials

Azlactone-based homopolymers and copolymers were successfully synthesized using the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process. The functional monomer 2-styryl-4,4-dimethylazlactone (SDA) was first homopolymerized in bulk then copolymerized with styrene, leading to (co)polymers with low polydispersity indices (PDI = 1.10-1.20). The reactive azlactone rings, located along the backbone of the copolymers were subjected to highly efficient ring-opening reactions with functionalized primary amine derivatives incorporating a fluorescent (naphthalene) or an electrochemical (ferrocene) probes, a biological fragment (glutathione), a sugar unit (β-cyclodextrin), or an oligomeric fluorinated moiety, leading to materials with various interesting properties.

Azlactone-Functionalized Polymers as Reactive Platforms for the Design of Advanced Materials: Progress in the Last Ten Years

Polymers functionalized with azlactone (or oxazolone) functionality have become increasingly useful for the rapid and modular design of functional materials. Because azlactones can react via ring-opening reactions with a variety of different nucleophilic species (e.g., primary amines, hydroxyl groups, and thiol functionality), azlactone-functionalized materials can serve as convenient 'reactive' platforms for the post-synthesis or post-fabrication introduction of a broad range of chemical functionality to soluble polymers, insoluble supports, and surfaces/interfaces. The last decade has seen an increase in both the number and the variety of reports that exploit the properties and the reactivities of azlactone-functionalized polymers. Here, we highlight recent work from several different laboratories, including our own, toward the design and characterization of azlactone-functionalized polymers, with a particular emphasis on: (i) new synthetic approaches for the preparation of well-defined azlactone-functionalized polymers using living/controlled methods of polymerization, (ii) the design and modular synthesis of side-chain functionalized polymers and block copolymers via post-polymerization modification of azlactone-functionalized polymers, (iii) the development of reactive polymeric supports useful in the contexts of separations and catalysis, and (iv) methods for the fabrication of reactive thin films and other approaches to the immobilization of azlactone functionality on surfaces and interfaces. Examples discussed herein reveal a growing awareness of azlactone functionality as a useful tool for polymer chemists, and highlight several ways that the unique reactivity of these materials can both complement and provide useful alternatives to other reactive polymers currently used to design functional materials.

Layer-by-Layer Fabrication of Covalently Crosslinked and Reactive Polymer Multilayers Using Azlactone-Functionalized Copolymers: A Platform for the Design of Functional Biointerfaces

We report a method for modulating the physicochemical properties of surfaces that is based on the reactive layer-by-layer fabrication of covalently crosslinked thin films using azlactone-functionalized copolymers. We demonstrate that copolymers containing different molar ratios of methylmethacrylate (MMA) and 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone (VDMA) can be alternately deposited with poly(ethyleneimine) to assemble covalently crosslinked thin films. Characterization using ellipsometry demonstrates that, in general, film growth and thickness decrease as the content of reactive, azlactone functionality in the copolymer used to assemble the film decreases. Reflective infrared spectroscopy experiments demonstrate that films fabricated from MMA:VDMA copolymers contain residual azlactone functionality and that these reactive groups can be exploited to modify film-coated surfaces. Fabricating films from MMA:VDMA copolymers containing different compositions permitted modulation of the density of reactive groups within the films and, thus, the extent to which the films are functionalized by exposure to small molecule amines. For example, functionalization of MMA:VDMA copolymer films with the small molecule D-glucamine resulted in films with water contact angles that varied with the composition of the copolymer used to fabricate the film (e.g., as the azlactone content in the film increased, glucamine-modified films became more hydrophilic). We demonstrate further that treatment of copolymer-containing films with glucamine resulted in changes in the numbers of mammalian cells that grow on the surfaces of the films. Our results suggest the basis of methods that could be used to modulate or tune the density of chemical and biological functionality presented on surfaces of interest in a variety of fundamental and applied contexts.

Fabrication of Covalently Crosslinked and Amine-Reactive Microcapsules by Reactive Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Azlactone-Containing Polymer Multilayers on Sacrificial Microparticle Templates

We report on the fabrication of covalently crosslinked and amine-reactive hollow microcapsules using 'reactive' layer-by-layer assembly to deposit thin polymer films on sacrificial microparticle templates. Our approach is based on the alternating deposition of layers of a synthetic polyamine and a polymer containing reactive azlactone functionality. Multilayered films composed of branched poly(ethylene imine) (BPEI) and poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone) (PVDMA) were fabricated layer-by-layer on the surfaces of calcium carbonate and glass microparticle templates. After fabrication, these films contained residual azlactone functionality that was accessible for reaction with amine-containing molecules. Dissolution of the calcium carbonate or glass cores using aqueous ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) or hydrofluoric acid (HF), respectively, led to the formation of hollow polymer microcapsules. These microcapsules were robust enough to encapsulate and retain a model macromolecule (FITC-dextran) and were stable for at least 22 hours in high ionic strength environments, in low and high pH solutions, and in several common organic solvents. Significant differences in the behaviors of capsules fabricated on CaCO(3) and glass cores were observed and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Whereas capsules fabricated on CaCO(3) templates collapsed upon drying, capsules fabricated on glass templates remained rigid and spherical. Characterization using EDS suggested that this latter behavior results, at least in part, from the presence of insoluble metal fluoride salts that are trapped or precipitate within the walls of capsules after etching of the glass cores using HF. Our results demonstrate that the assembly of BPEI/PVDMA films on sacrificial templates can be used to fabricate reactive microcapsules of potential use in a wide range of fields, including catalysis, drug and gene delivery, imaging, and biomedical research.

Azlactone-functionalized polymers as reactive templates for parallel polymer synthesis: synthesis and screening of a small library of cationic polymers in the context of DNA delivery

Azlactone-functionalized polymers are used as reactive templates for the synthesis of a library of amine-functionalized polymers of interest in the context of DNA delivery and other applications.