Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Facile and Efficient Preparation of Tri-component Fluorescent Glycopolymers via RAFT-controlled Polymerization
Published on: June 19, 2015
Versatile grafting of polysaccharides in homogeneous mild conditions by using atom transfer radical polymerization
Debora Bontempo1, Giancarlo Masci, Piero De Leonardis
1Department of Chemistry, University of Rome La Sapienza, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
A versatile atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method for polysaccharide grafting in homogeneous mild conditions without using protecting group chemistry is presented. Water/DMF mixtures with different compositions were used as the solvent. The "grafting-from" approach was used in order to prepare suitable pullulan and dextran ATRP macroinitiators with a well controlled degree of functionalization. Methacrylate and acrylamide monomers were grafted obtaining good control over the number, molecular weight and polydispersity of the grafted chains without homopolymer formation and polysaccharide degradation. The versatility of this method allowed us to prepare comblike derivatives with a wide range of properties (amphiphilic, ionic, and thermoresponsive) by simply changing the solvent composition and the catalyst. This could make possible the synthesis of new interesting biomaterials starting from a wide range of polysaccharides.
Related Concept Videos
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching

