Synthesis of nanostructured bio-related materials by hybridization of synthetic polymers with polysaccharides or saccharide residues

Abstract

In the first part of this review, we describe the synthesis of nanostructured hybrid materials composed of polysaccharides and synthetic polymers. Amylose–synthetic polymer inclusion complexes were synthesized by amylose-forming polymerization using phosphorylase enzyme in the presence of synthetic polymers such as polyethers and polyesters. Alginate–polymethacrylate hybrid materials were prepared by free-radical polymerization of cationic methacrylate in the presence of sodium alginate. These methods allow the simultaneous control of the nanostructure with polymerization, giving well-defined hybrid materials. In the second part of this review, we describe the synthesis of novel glycopolymers with rigid structures. Polyaniline-based glycopolymers were synthesized by means of oxidative polymerization of N-glycosylaniline. Polysiloxane-based glycopolymers were prepared by means of introduction of sugar-lactone to the rodlike polysiloxane. These glycopolymers had regular higher-ordered structures due to their rigid polymer backbones, resulting in control of the three-dimensional array of sugar-residues.