Poly(2-oxazolines) in biological and biomedical application contexts

Adams, Nico; Schubert, Ulrich S.

Abstract:

Polyoxazolines of various architectures and chemical functionalities can be prepared in a living and therefore controlled manner via cationic ring-opening polymerisation. They have found widespread applications, ranging from coatings to pigment dispersants. Furthermore, several polyoxazolines are water-soluble or amphiphilic and relatively non-toxic, which makes them interesting as biomaterials. This paper reviews the development of polyoxazoline-based polymers in biological and biomedical application contexts since the beginning of the millennium. This includes nanoscalar systems such as membranes and nanoparticles, drug and gene delivery applications, as well as stimuliresponsive systems.

Year:

2007

Type of Publication:

Article

Keywords:

polyoxazoline; biomaterials; self-assembly; drug delivery; gene delivery; stimuli-responsive polymers; triblock copolymer membranes; telechelic antimicrobial functions; amphiphilic block-copolymers; stimuli-responsive polymers; ring-opening polymerization

Journal:

Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews

Volume:

59

Number:

15

Pages:

1504 - 1520