C-O-C chemistry : Synthesis and biological applications of functional polyglycerols

Abstract

As a most well-known synthetic biopolymer, poily(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is widely used in the food, cosmetics, and biomedical applications. However, its limited functionality combined with its challenging synthetic nature often poses challenges for advanced material design and synthesis. Recently, polyglycerols and their derivatives are emerging as alternative for next-generation biocompatible polymers with controlled functionalities and architectures. The present talk will cover the design and the synthesis of well-defined stimuli-responsive polyglycerols such as pH- and redox-stimuli for biocompatible and biodegradable smart drug delivery systems. Furthemore, our recent effort in the development of novel functional epoxide monomers with multifunctionality will be highlighted