Oxygen-Tolerant RAFT Polymerization Initiated by Living Bacteria

Living organisms can synthesize a wide range of macromolecules from a small set of natural building blocks, yet there is potential for even greater materials diversity by exploiting biochemical processes to convert unnatural feedstocks into new abiotic polymers. Ultimately, the synthesis of these polymers in situ might aid the coupling of organisms with synthetic matrices, and the generation of biohybrids or engineered living materials. The key step in biohybrid materials preparation is to harness the relevant biological pathways to produce synthetic polymers with predictable molar masses and defined architectures under ambient conditions. Accordingly, we report an aqueous, oxygen-tolerant RAFT polymerization platform based on a modified Fenton reaction, which is initiated by Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34, a bacterial species with iron-reducing capabilities. We show the synthesis of a range of water-soluble polymers under normoxic conditions, with control over the molar mass distribution, and also the production of block copolymer nanoparticles via polymerization-induced self-assembly. Finally, we highlight the benefits of using a bacterial initiation system by recycling the cells for multiple polymerizations. Overall, our method represents a highly versatile approach to producing well-defined polymeric materials within a hybrid natural-synthetic polymerization platform and in engineered living materials with properties beyond those of biotic macromolecules.

Automated summary

Living organisms have the potential to synthesize new abiotic polymers from unnatural feedstocks, which can lead to greater materials diversity. In this study, an oxygen-tolerant RAFT polymerization platform was developed to synthesize a range of water-soluble polymers with controlled molar mass distribution. The platform also allowed for the production of block copolymer nanoparticles via polymerization-induced self-assembly. The use of a bacterial initiation system provided additional advantages.