Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2025
08:09
Methionine Functionalized Biocompatible Block Copolymers for Targeted Plasmid DNA Delivery
Published on: August 6, 2019
5.8K
Artificial Polymerizations in Living Organisms for Biomedical Applications.
Yun Chen1, Brynne Shu Ni Tan1, Yu Cheng1
1School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore, 637371, Singapore.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|August 1, 2024
Summary
Artificial polymerizations are being developed for biological systems, offering new ways to protect cells, manage biological events, and improve diagnostics and therapies. Challenges remain for clinical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Polymer Chemistry
- Synthetic Biology
Background:
- Living organisms utilize natural nanomachines for essential polymerization processes.
- Artificial polymerizations are being translated from laboratory settings into biological environments.
- This integration offers novel approaches for cellular engineering and functionalization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in artificial polymerization techniques applicable to biological systems.
- To highlight cutting-edge biomedical applications of artificial polymerization.
- To identify challenges and future directions for in vivo polymerizations.
Main Methods:
- Summarizing recent research on stimuli-responsive and spontaneous artificial polymerizations.
- Analyzing the integration of artificial polymerization into biological contexts.
- Reviewing current and potential biomedical applications.
Main Results:
- Artificial polymerizations can be designed to respond to various internal and external stimuli.
- Key applications include cell protection, modulation of biological events, enhanced diagnostics, and improved therapeutics.
- Significant progress has been made in developing spontaneous polymerization systems.
Conclusions:
- Artificial polymerizations hold significant promise for diverse biomedical applications.
- Overcoming technological challenges is crucial for advancing in vivo polymerization.
- Future research should focus on practical applications and clinical translation.
Related Concept Videos
02:34Polymers
35.6K
The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the...
35.6K
01:28ATP and Macromolecule Synthesis
5.5K
Biological macromolecules are organic compounds, predominantly composed of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are covalently bonded with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other minor elements. There are four major biological macromolecule classes: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Most macromolecules are composed of single subunits, or building blocks, called monomers. The monomers combine with each other using covalent bonds to form larger molecules known as polymers.
Conversion of...
Most macromolecules are composed of single subunits, or building blocks, called monomers. The monomers combine with each other using covalent bonds to form larger molecules known as polymers.
Conversion of...
5.5K
01:20Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
2.1K
The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...
2.1K
01:03Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview
3.4K
Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
3.4K
01:04Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
2.0K
The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael...
2.0K