Modular Toolkit of Multifunctional Block Copoly(2-oxazoline)s for the Synthesis of Nanoparticles

Post-polymerization modification provides an elegant way to introduce chemical functionalities onto macromolecules to produce tailor-made materials with superior properties. This concept was adapted to well-defined block copolymers of the poly(2-oxazoline) family and demonstrated the large potential of these macromolecules as universal toolkit for numerous applications. Triblock copolymers with separated water-soluble, alkyne- and alkene-containing segments were synthesized and orthogonally modified with various low-molecular weight functional molecules by copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) and thiol-ene (TE) click reactions, respectively. Representative toolkit polymers were used for the synthesis of gold, iron oxide and silica nanoparticles.

Automated summary

Post-polymerization modification offers an elegant method to produce tailor-made materials, particularly with well-defined block copolymers of the poly(2-oxazoline) family showing potential as a universal toolkit. Triblock copolymers with distinct water-soluble, alkyne- and alkene-containing segments were successfully synthesized and orthogonally modified with various functional molecules through CuAAC and TE click reactions, and utilized for the synthesis of nanoparticles.