Design Strategies for Functionalized Poly(2-oxazoline)s and Derived Materials

Abstract

Abstract:The polymer class of poly(2-oxazoline)s currently is under intensive investigation due to the versatile properties that can be tailor-made by the variation and manipulation of the functional groups they bear. In particular their utilization in the biomedic(in)al field is the subject of numerous studies. Given the mechanism of the cationic ring-opening polymerization, a plethora of synthetic strategies exists for the preparation of poly(2-oxazoline)s with dedicated functionality patterns, comprising among others the functionalization by telechelic end-groups, the incorporation of substituted monomers into (co)poly(2-oxazoline)s, and polymeranalogous reactions. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art of poly(2-oxazoline) preparation and showcases prominent examples of poly(2-oxazoline)-based materials, which are retraced to the desktop-planned synthetic strategy and the variability of their properties for dedicated applications.

Functional Poly(2-oxazoline)s by Direct Amidation of Methyl Ester Side Chains

“…[7][8][9][10] In addition, a microwave assisted 10 polymerization protocol was introduced about ten years ago to drastically reduce polymerization 11 times from days and hours to minutes. 11,12 The livingness of the CROP allows the preparation 12 of defined PAOx with full control over polymer architectures including blocks 13,14 , gradients 15 …”

Thermal Properties of Methyl Ester-Containing Poly(2-oxazoline)s

“…Functional groups, often protected, can be introduced into PAOx by making use of a functional monomer or initiator during the living cationic ring opening polymerisation (CROP, Scheme 1) of 2-oxazoline monomers or by using a functional terminating agent, yielding well-defined PAOx with control over number and type of functionalities [15,[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]. Methyl esters are especially interesting, because they can undergo a direct amidation with a variety of amines to easily introduce other functional groups such as alcohols, hydrazide and amines [39][40][41][42].…”

RGD-Functionalization of Poly(2-oxazoline)-Based Networks for Enhanced Adhesion to Cancer Cells

“…Hence, the cationic ring-opening polymerization yields polymers with highly predictable structures and narrow average molecular weight distributions [26], which are key prerequisites for subsequent biomedical use. Termination of the polymerization with, e.g., anions or reactants that can be deprotonated yields end-group functionalized poly(2-oxazoline)s [29]. Scheme 1.…”