Biosynthetic Polymers as Functional Materials

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Abstract
The synthesis of functional polymers encoded with biomolecules has been an extensive area of research for decades. As such, a diverse toolbox of polymerization techniques and bioconjugation methods has been developed. The greatest impact of this work has been in biomedicine and biotechnology, where fully synthetic and naturally derived biomolecules are used cooperatively. Despite significant improvements in biocompatible and functionally diverse polymers, our success in the field is constrained by recognized limitations in polymer architecture control, structural dynamics, and biostabilization. This Perspective discusses the current status of functional biosynthetic polymers and highlights innovative strategies reported within the past five years that have made great strides in overcoming the aforementioned barriers.
Funding Information
  • NIH Office of the Director (1 DP2 OD008724)
  • Army Research Office (W911NF-14-1-0169, W911NF-15-1-0568)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01 HL117326)
  • Division of Graduate Education (DGE-1144086)
  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-11-1-0105, FA9550-12-1-0414)
  • National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (1 R01 EB011633)

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