Carbohydrate-Functionalized Polymers

Synthetic carbohydrate polymers, the so-called glycopolymers , have been prepared over the last years by using controlled polymerization techniques, as these techniques not only allow precise control of the polymerization process but also enable access to precise polyvalent arrangements containing a variety of functionalities [38-40]. Among the controlled polymerization methods, ROMP has attracted considerable attention [41]. 

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Nowadays, a strategic area of research is the development of polymers based on carbohydrates due to the worldwide focus on sustainable materials. Since the necessary multi-step synthesis of carbohydrate-based polymers is not economical for the production of commodity plastics, functionalization of synthetic polymers by carbohydrates has become a current subject of research. This aims to prepare new bioactive and biocompatible polymers capable of exerting a temporary therapeutic function. The large variety of methods of anchoring carbohydrates onto polymers as well as the current and potential applications of the functionalized polymers has been discussed recently in a critical review [171]. Of importance is that such modification renders not only functionality but also biodegradability to the synthetic polymers. 

Disney M, Zheng J, Swager TM, Seeberger P (2004) Detection of bacteria with carbohydrate-functionalized fluorescent polymers. J Am Chem Soc 126 13343-13346... 

Some reviews have been published on the synthetic carbohydrate-based polymers and glycopolymers [11-15]. However, they refer mainly to poly(vinylsaccharide)s and other conventional functionalized polymers having sugars as groups pendant from the main chain of the polymer. In this chapter we shall describe those sugar-based monomers which lead to polymers having the sugar units incorporated into... 

Figure 13.4 A schematic showing some of the frameworks that have been reported for the study of protein-carbohydrate interactions. Carbohydrates are represented as cyclohexane. (Top) Glycodendrimer, carbohydrate-functionalized nanoparticle, and star polymer. (Bottom) Linear glycopolymer, carbohydrate-functionalized protein, and carbohydrate-functionalized surface.

Carbohydrate-derived polymers may overcome these negative attributes (9), Previously published work (10-13) demonstrated the potential for improved functional characteristics of dextrinized, oxidized and native starches by simple... 

As the most important skeletal component in plants and also a substance produced by certain bacteria, polysaccharide cellulose is an almost inexhaustible polymeric raw material with a fascinating structure and interesting properties. The fusion of both carbohydrate and polymer chemistry in a macromolecule biosynthetically composed of repeating glucose units generates surprising specificity and impressively diverse supramolecular/morpho-logical structures, reactivities, and functions. 

T. Ogawa, J. Polymer Sd., Part A Polymer Chem. 2003, 41(21), 3336-3345. Simplified synthesis of carbohydrate-functional siloxanes via transacetalation. 1. Glucose-functional siloxanes . 

Polysaccharides commonly found in nature (starch, cellulose, mannan, xylan, laminaran, gum, etc.) are playing an important role not only in the food industry but also for use as materials. However, recent research tends to focus on applying these polysaccharides as substances with diverse biochemical functions or medicines. This section will outline the biochemical functions of polysaccharides and synthetic carbohydrate-bound polymers and the perspectives of their medicinal/medical use. 

Scheme 11.2-4 Synthesis of the carbohydrate-functionalized fluorescent polymer 17 for the detection of pathogenic bacteria.

M.D. Disney, J. Zheng, T.M. Swager, P.H. Seeberger, Detection of Bacteria with carbohydrate-functionalized fluorescent polymer,... 

Boufi Sami, is Professor at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Sfax (FSS). His research activities include chemical modification of cellulose and carbohydrate materials, the synthesis of functional polymer for colloidal chemistry, and the exploitation of chemically modified cellulose fibres as reusable adsorbent for dissolved organic pollutants. 

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