Macromol. Biosci. 3/2016

Abstract

Back Cover: Defined poly(2‐oxazoline)s (POx) bearing a maleimide terminal function was conjugated with hydrophilic elastin‐like polypeptides (ELP) in a straightforward Michael‐addition reaction. The first example to use the amphiphilic POx‐ELP hybrids as a polymer therapeutic by the formulation of a hydrophobic anti‐cancer drug (paclitaxel) is shown. Further details can be found in the article by J. F. Nawroth, J. R. McDaniel, A. Chilkoti, R. Jordan, R. Luxenhofer on page 322.

Poly(2‐oxazoline) Hydrogels: State‐of‐the‐Art and Emerging Applications

“…Likewise, strain‐promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition is an example of a conjugation tool that has been adapted to create PEG hydrogels and could equally be applied to PAOx with only minor modifications to the previously reported bicyclo[6.1.0]non‐4‐yne terminated PEtOx . Similarly, glyco–PAOx, POxylated–proteins, and PAOx–nucleic acids conjugates that were previously reported have potential to be modified for hydrogel synthesis using physical or covalent cross‐linking.…”

Maleimide end-functionalized poly(2-oxazoline)s by the functional initiator route: synthesis and (bio)conjugation

“…It is to note that the starting materials are extremely cheap and that no chromatographic step is required throughout the entire synthesis, in contrast to the aforementioned synthetic strategies for maleimide endfunctional PEtOx (vide supra). 37,38 Analysis of both initiators by 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy, as well as ESI-MS conrmed that the targeted structures were obtained with high purity (Fig. S1-S6 †).…”

“…33 This versatility makes it a suitable group for post-polymerization modication (PPM), protein conjugation, synthesis of block copolymers, (reversible) network formation, or surface functionalization. Some examples of maleimide end-functionalized polymers have been reported, [34][35][36][37][38] including poly(2-oxazoline)s. In the latter case, Schacher and co-workers introduced the maleimide end group by PPM at the u chain end, by rst capping with sodium azide and then performing azide-alkyne cycloaddition with an alkyne-functionalized protected maleimide, which had been synthesized in three steps with an overall yield of 9%, including a column chromatography step. 37 A second approach to add a maleimide functionality at the u chain end was recently reported by Luxenhofer and co-workers, 38 where furan-protected maleimide was directly used as terminating agent for the CROP of AOx.…”

Expansion of bioorthogonal chemistries towards site-specific polymer–protein conjugation

“…199 POZ-conjugation to granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) enhanced the solubility and stability against aggregation. 210 These conjugates were used as drug carriers for a hydrophobic anti-cancer drug, paclitaxel. 209 Recently, POZs functionalized with maleimide groups were conjugated to elastin-like polypeptides containing cysteines though the thiol-maleimide coupling.…”

“…209 In addition, POZ-G-CSF conjugates did not show any loss in G-CSF biological activity in vitro but increased AUC in rat. 210 210 These conjugates were used as drug carriers for a hydrophobic anti-cancer drug, paclitaxel.…”