INS8-1635
LIGHT-DRIVEN POLYMERIZATION TO AFFORD FUNCTIONAL HYDROPHILIC POLYMERS WITH ANTIFOULING PROPERTY, PROGRAMMABLE DEGRADATION AND THERMORESPONSIVENESS
Topic
S8. Frontiers of Functional Polymers in Biology and Medicine
When and Where
Oct 1, 2026
14:25 - 14:40
Room 108
Session Chairs
Mikyung SHIN
Jin YOO
Presenter(s)
Chia-Chih Chang (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Development of functional hydrophilic polymers with tailorable properties is essential for biomedical research. α-Lipoic acid (LA) has emerged as a versatile and cost-effective monomer for constructing degradable polymers because of cleavable disulfide bonds are present along the polymer backbone. LA and its derivatives undergo radical ring-opening polymerization via both conventional and controlled radical processes. The disulfide bonds can readily undergo bond scission under mild reductive conditions. While reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of LA with vinyl monomers provides degradable polymers with controlled molecular weights, conventional thermally initiated RAFT systems often suffer from oxygen sensitivity and limited LA incorporation. Herein, we report the synthesis of degradable vinyl copolymers incorporating α-lipoic acid derivatives via photoiniferter-RAFT polymerization. This light-mediated approach eliminates the need for external initiators and exhibits enhanced oxygen tolerance, enabling a simplified and spatiotemporally controlled polymerization process under ambient conditions. The method demonstrates broad comonomer compatibility and allows efficient block copolymer synthesis with predictable molecular weight. Introduction of Isopropyl group to the terminal of LA impart thermoresponsivness to hydrophilic poly(N,N’-dimethylacrylamide), such that lower critical solution temperature can be adjusted by the polymer composition. Furthermore, our recent efforts on antifouling amine-oxide containing polymer will be discussed.
