RAFT polymerization mediated bioconjugation strategies

Abstract

This review aims to highlight the use of RAFT polymerization in the synthesis of polymer bioconjugates. It covers two main bioconjugation strategies using the RAFT process: (i) postpolymerization bioconjugations using pre-synthesized reactive polymers, and (ii) bioconjugations via in situ polymerization using biomolecule-modified monomers or chain transfer agents.

Living Radical Polymerization by the RAFT Process – A Third Update

“…Methods for preparing biopolymer conjugates have been reviewed. [53,54,57,89] The most common method involves coupling the RAFT-synthesized polymer with the biopolymer through reactive functionality present on either the 'R' or 'Z' groups. Note that use of functionality on 'Z' leaves the thiocarbonylthio group as a potentially degradable link at the block juncture.…”

“…include those on the kinetics and mechanism of RAFT polymerization, [26,27] RAFT agent design and synthesis, [28] the use of RAFT to probe the kinetics of radical polymerization, [29] microwaveassisted RAFT polymerization, [30,31] RAFT polymerization in microemulsion, [32] end-group removal/transformation, [33][34][35][36] the use of RAFT in organic synthesis, [37] the combined use of RAFT polymerization and click chemistry, [38] the synthesis of star polymers and other complex architectures, [39][40][41][42] the synergistic use of RAFT polymerization and ATRP, [43,44] the synthesis of self assembling and/or stimuli-responsive polymers, [45][46][47] and the use of RAFT-synthesized polymers in green chemistry, [48] polymer nanocomposites, [49][50][51] drug delivery and bioapplications, [41,46,47,[52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60] and applications in cosmetics [61] and optoelectronics. [62] The process is also given substantial coverage in most recent reviews that, in part, relate to polymer synthesis, living or controlled polymerization or novel architectures.…”

A new proton sponge polymer synthesized by RAFT polymerization for intracellular delivery of biotherapeutics

“…The ability of the RAFT technique to yield polymers with controlled molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution, controlled structure and endgroup functionality makes this technique an excellent synthetic tool to prepare polymer therapeutics. [34][35][36][37][38][39][40] Firstly, a new methacrylate monomer, namely 2-((tert-butoxycarbonyl)(2-((tertbutoxycarbonyl)amino)ethyl)amino)ethylmethacrylate (BocAEA-EMA), was prepared and then polymerized via RAFT polymerization. A series of RAFT polymerization kinetics experiments were performed in order to investigate the RAFT-controlled character of polymerizations.…”

RAFT Polymerization – Then and Now

“…General reviews include those by Moad, Rizzardo and Thang (14,15,(62)(63)(64)(65) Destarac (66), and Barner-Kowollik et al (67). Reviews devoted to RAFT or RAFT polymerization in specific areas include those on the origins of RAFT polymerization (3), the design and synthesis of RAFT agents (48), advances in Switchable RAFT agents (68,69), dithiobenzoate-mediated RAFT polymerization (70), RAFT chemistry using xanthates (4,71), RAFT polymerization of vinyl esters (72), RAFT crosslinking polymerization (73), RAFT polymerization in microemulsion (74), RAFT polymerization induced self-assembly (75,76), the synthesis of block copolymers (77), the synthesis of star polymers and other complex architectures (78)(79)(80)(81), block copolymers based on amino acid-derived monomers (82), end group removal and transformation (83)(84)(85)(86), the synergistic use of RAFT polymerization and ATRP (87), microwave-assisted RAFT polymerization (88,89), silica nanoparticles (90), polymer nanocomposites (91,92), the use of RAFT-synthesized polymers in gene-delivery (93), drug delivery and bioapplications (79,(94)(95)(96)(97)…”