Issue 88, 2014

Threaded macromolecules as a versatile framework for biomaterials

Abstract

Polyrotaxanes (PRXs) are a class of supramolecular threaded macromolecules, in which cyclic molecules are threaded onto the main- or side-chain of polymers. To date, various studies have been conducted on the synthesis of PRXs, and various combinations of cyclic molecules and polymers that can form a PRX have been discovered. Among these combinations, PRXs composed of cyclodextrins (CDs) and a linear polymer have attracted much attention and have been investigated by many researchers. Because of the non-covalently associated characteristic of PRXs, these supermolecules exhibit unique properties, such as the dynamic motion of the threaded cyclic molecules along a polymer axle and complete dissociation of the supramolecular structure, that are never observed in other synthetic polymers. These inherent properties of PRXs are of interest in the design of novel biomaterials, such as hydrogels, scaffolds in tissue engineering, drug delivery carriers, and polymer–drug conjugates. Thus, various studies have been conducted to utilize PRXs as a framework for biomaterials. In this review, we describe the recent progress in biomaterial application of PRXs such as drug delivery and gene delivery.

Graphical abstract: Threaded macromolecules as a versatile framework for biomaterials

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
16 رجب 1435
Accepted
11 رمضان 1435
First published
21 رمضان 1435

Chem. Commun., 2014,50, 13433-13446

Author version available

Threaded macromolecules as a versatile framework for biomaterials

A. Tamura and N. Yui, Chem. Commun., 2014, 50, 13433 DOI: 10.1039/C4CC03709J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements