A key interest in the design of nanomaterials for biomedical applications is construction from naturally-occurring starting materials capable of breaking down into bioresorbable natural by-products.  Recently, we have developed ring opening polymerizations for 1,2,3-protected-4,6-cyclic carbonate monomers of glucose to generate poly(glucose carbonate) (PGC) and a unique polyphosphoester (PPE)-b-PGC block copolymer having solvothermatic characteristics.  To tailor the structural and physical properties of these materials we have explored ways to diversify PGCs through modification of the 2,3-protecting groups of the 4,6-cyclic carbonate monomer.  Such modifications offer increased control over the regiochemistry of propagation, the thermal characteristics of the resulting PGCs, and the natural by-products produced during their degradation.  Modifying these protecting groups also introduces opportunities to rapidly and efficiently tailor the functionality of these materials such that they form unique micellar-like nanostructures aimed towards specific biomedical applications, including imaging and/or drug delivery.  Overall, these new PGCs offer a customizable, degradable platform with the potential to create well-controlled nanomaterials that possess increased biocompatibility.

Poly(glucose carbonate)s as a versatile degradable polymeric system: Towards the design of functional nanomaterials for biomedical applications

247th National Meeting (2014)

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