Carbohydrate-based polymers are ideal biomaterials because of their favourable biocompatibility and biodegradability. However the access of carbohydrate-based polymers is limited. Natural polysaccharides are abundant but extensive purifications are needed to obtain sufficiently purity to meet the biomedical requirements. Synthetic approaches have been explored but limited success has been achieved.<br/>We present herein efficient syntheses of polysaccharides using a variety of strategies including microwave-assisted polycondensation of di-functional AB-monomer, ring-opening polymerization of anhydro sugars, as well as our recent discovery of sugar poly(orthoesters). The syntheses of sugar poly(orthoesters) are especially attractive because the containing orthoester linkages are extremely sensitive to acid-catalysed hydrolysis, allowing for the construction of highly pH-responsive nanostructures. We also demonstrate herein that the synthesized poly(orthoesters) could be conveniently converted to nanostructures, either through self-assembly or through emulsion-evaporation. The nanostructures could be an excellent delivery system for selective and efficient delivery of drugs to cancer cells, wherein the cells are exposed to lower extracellular pH values.

Efficient syntheses of polysaccharides and their biomedical applications                                                                                                                                                         </b>

249th National Meeting (2015)

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