Amphiphilic well‐defined degradable star block copolymers by combination of ring‐opening polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization: Synthesis and application as drug delivery carriers

Abstract

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is one of the most popular advanced polymerization techniques in macromolecular science, allowing the synthesis of tailor-made polymers with controlled molecular weight, architecture, composition, and functionality. The combination of ATRP and ringopening polymerization (ROP) provides a straightforward route for the preparation of polymers exhibiting both targeted and well-defined features and biodegradability, which is very interesting for the development of new materials for biomedical applications. Among the different types of polymer architectures, amphiphilic star block copolymers (BCPs) represent a very attractive one, due to their high degree of functionality at the molecular surface, low hydrodynamic volume and higher encapsulation ability, compared to molecular systems based on linear polymers. This review article highlights the research focused on the synthesis of amphiphilic well-defined degradable star BCPs by combination of ROP and ATRP, with particular focus on the development of polymers for biomedical applications, such as anticancer drug delivery, diagnosis therapy, or photodynamic therapy, which is the most investigated field regarding these polymers.

Synthesis, Hydrophilicity and Micellization of Coil-Brush Polystyrene-b-(polyglycidol-g-polyglycidol) Copolymer—Comparison with Linear Polystyrene-b-polyglycidol

“…Amphiphilic block copolymers (BCPs) have found numerous applications in various fields of science and branches of industry such as drug delivery carriers [1][2][3][4][5], bioactive agents carriers [6,7], tissue engineering materials [8], electrochemical sensors [9], polymer blends [10], polymer membranes [11], nanoreactors with embedded enzymes [12], enhanced-performance supercapacitors [13], anti-bacterial and anti-protein fouling coatings of various materials [14][15][16], surfactants systems for stabilization of various emulsions [17], and polymer solar cells [18]. The final application of copolymers is closely related to the chemical structure, architecture of macromolecules and properties of blocks components.…”

Phase Separation and pH-Dependent Behavior of Four-Arm Star-Shaped Porphyrin-PNIPAM4 Conjugates

“…Star-shaped PNIPAM homopolymers , or block copolymers − with a variety of different architectures (e.g., number of arms, ,, terminal groups, or core–shell structures − ) have been published. Various other four-armed star-shaped porphyrin-centered molecules with arms consisting of polymers other than PNIPAM have also been described including those containing poly­(ethylene oxide), , poly­( N , N -diethylacrylamide), poly­(ε-caprolactone), poly­(ε-caprolactone)- block -poly­(oligo­(ethylene glycol)­methyl ether methacrylate), or poly­(ε-caprolactone)- block -poly­(gluconamidoethyl methacrylate) .…”

New method for controlled synthesis of polylactide block copolymers: organoborane/p‐quinone system and reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization

“…[11][12][13][14] An alternative approach for the synthesis of copolymers from PLA and, for instance, vinyl monomers is reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP). [15][16][17][18][19] This approach has some important advantages: (i) a variety of monomers can be used for functionalization of PLA; (ii) physicomechanical and thermo-physical properties of resultant copolymers can be altered significantly; and (iii) porous structures, which are promising for tissue engineering, can be produced. 20 For the modification of PLA with vinyl polymers, well-known methods are often used.…”

“…One of the most useful approaches for the modification of PLA is its copolymerization with epoxides and anhydrides 11–14 . An alternative approach for the synthesis of copolymers from PLA and, for instance, vinyl monomers is reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) 15–19 . This approach has some important advantages: (i) a variety of monomers can be used for functionalization of PLA; (ii) physico‐mechanical and thermo‐physical properties of resultant copolymers can be altered significantly; and (iii) porous structures, which are promising for tissue engineering, can be produced 20 .…”