Responsive Boronic Acid-Decorated (Co)polymers: From Glucose Sensors to Autonomous Drug Delivery

Abstract

Boronic acid-containing (co)polymers have fascinated researchers for decades, garnering attention for their unique responsiveness toward 1,2- and 1,3-diols, including saccharides and nucleotides. The applications of materials that exert this property are manifold including sensing, but also self-regulated drug delivery systems through responsive membranes or micelles. In this review, some of the main applications of boronic acid containing (co)polymers are discussed focusing on the role of the boronic acid group in the response mechanism. We hope that this summary, which highlights the importance and potential of boronic acid-decorated polymeric materials, will inspire further research within this interesting field of responsive polymers and polymeric materials.

Electron‐Deficient Borinic Acid Polymers: Synthesis, Supramolecular Assembly, and Examination as Catalysts in Amide Bond Formation

“…A particularly attractive class of borane compounds are boronic acids [RB(OH) 2 ] due to their ability to reversibly bind to sugars and other 1,2‐ or 1,3‐diol compounds . In basic solution, the boronic acid group forms a boronic ester, whereas acidic conditions typically result in its hydrolysis.…”

Importance of some factors on the Suzuki‐Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction

“…Boronic acids have a long history of application, and they have been explored for various objectives containing as substrates in transition‐metal‐catalyzed CC bond cross‐coupling reactions, [ 11,51,69,70 ] precursors in 11 C‐labeling, [ 71 ] artificial lectins, [ 72 ] applications in 18 F‐ArBF 3 − imaging agents, [ 73 ] as gelators, [ 74 ] as chemo‐sensors, [ 75 ] in drug design [ 76 ] and in self‐healing polymers. [ 77 ] They provide properly handled, or in situ formed [ 78 ] nucleophiles for a host of substitution and cross‐coupling reactions.…”

Chemically controlled micro-pores and nano-filters for separation tasks in 2D and 3D microfluidic systems

“…Here, previous publications show that phenylboronicacid-based hydrogels are stimuli-sensitive to sugar (e.g. glucose [50][51][52][53][54] ) concentrations which makes this material the material of choice for further investigations and applications.…”