Biosynthetic Polymers as Functional Materials

Abstract

The synthesis of functional polymers encoded with biomolecules has been an extensive area of research for decades. As such, a diverse toolbox of polymerization techniques and bioconjugation methods has been developed. The greatest impact of this work has been in biomedicine and biotechnology, where fully synthetic and naturally derived biomolecules are used cooperatively. Despite significant improvements in biocompatible and functionally diverse polymers, our success in the field is constrained by recognized limitations in polymer architecture control, structural dynamics, and biostabilization. This Perspective discusses the current status of functional biosynthetic polymers and highlights innovative strategies reported within the past five years that have made great strides in overcoming the aforementioned barriers.

Recent advances in crystallization and self‐assembly of polypeptoid polymers

“…The revisable order‐disorder transition (ODT) of self‐assembled nanostructures revealed that these ordered morphologies were equilibrium structures. The combination of polypeptoids and nondegradable synthetic polymers is an ideal strategy to design and synthesize amphiphilic block copolymers, which are promising in their use as biological materials, such as biosensors, biomimetic scaffolds, biomimetic membranes …”

In Vitro and In Vivo Biocompatibility of Novel Zwitterionic Poly(Beta Amino)Ester Hydrogels Based on Diacrylate and Glycine for Site‐Specific Controlled Drug Release

“…Although PBAE was at first designed for DNA delivery applications, there is an increased interest in their applications as pH‐sensitive materials, drug delivery vehicles, theranostics, tissue engineering, magnetic hyperthermia, due to their good biocompability, biodegradability, and capability to form copolymers. Biosynthetic diacrylate/amine combinations of PBAE hydrogels were also successfully developed over the past few decades as advanced biocompatible and biodegradable materials, with adjustable degradation rate and tunable mechanical properties …”

“…Biosynthetic diacrylate/amine combinations of PBAE hydrogels were also successfully developed over the past few decades as advanced biocompatible and biodegradable materials, with adjustable degradation rate and tunable mechanical properties. [10] Further advances in this respect have occurred by incorporation of naturally occurring amino acids or peptides into the synthetic polymer, providing them zwitterionic and pH-responsive character, which has lately been the focus of extensive studies. [11][12][13][14] Due to functional group variety in amino acids, it is possible to synthesize a large variety of well-defined functional amino acid-based optically active polymers of varied molecular weights, compositions, and architectures.…”

Preparation and biocompatibility evaluation of pectin and chitosan cryogels for biomedical application

“…Today, there is a need for the development of biomaterials with novel properties for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, and the creation of implantable devices. Synthetic and natural polymers were used for the development of such materials . The main advantages of natural polymers are biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low cost.…”

“…Synthetic and natural polymers were used for the development of such materials. [1][2][3][4][5] The main advantages of natural polymers are biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low cost. For the development of new biomaterials, it is important to highlight the potential use of pectin and chitosan among the natural polysaccharides.…”