After celebrating the 50th anniversary since the first report on poly(2-oxazoline)s, we are now experiencing a turning point of this biocompatible polymer towards applications in biomedicine. The progressive exhaustion of the currently widespread polymers in the field, most notably impacting polyethylene glycol, has triggered a great deal of research on the poly(2-oxazoline) platform. This polymer class allows the chemist to engineer the polymer properties and introduce multiple functionality, adapting the material to a wide variety of applications. Our research group has targeted two main areas to develop the poly(2-oxazoline) platform that will be discussed in this lecture. First, investigation of the polymerization mechanism to obtain high molar mass, highly defined polymers, milestone that was believed to be unattainable. Second, different strategies to obtain side-chain functional poly(2-oxazoline)s, including functional monomer synthesis and post-polymerization functionalization chemistries. Finally, specific examples that will be shown include the use of poly(2-oxazoline)s as pharmaceutical excipients, evaluation of degradation and toxicity, including pharmacokinetic behavior, as well as the use of various side-chain functionalized polymers for the preparation of hydrogel cell scaffolds and advanced drug-delivery vehicles and depots.

Poly(2-oxazoline)s: From fundamental research to biomedical applications

254th National Meeting (2017)

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