Glycosaminoglycan Mimetic Biomaterials. 2. Alkene- and Acrylate-Derivatized Glycopolymers via Cyanoxyl-Mediated Free-Radical Polymerization

Cyanoxyl ( • OC⋮N)-mediated free-radical polymerization provides an effective and versatile method for engineering a diverse array of water-soluble glycopolymers with high saccharide contents and low polydispersity indexes (1.1 < M w / M n < 1.6). Cyanoxyl persistent radicals can be used as chain-growth moderators of the statistical copolymerization of acrylamide with either nonsulfated or sulfated N -acetyl- d -glucosamine-carrying alkene- and acrylate-derivatized unprotected glycomonomers. Moreover, monosaccharide-containing homopolymers can be prepared with some degree of control by polymerization of the acrylic glycomonomers.