Sequence-controlled, multifunctional materials by living anionic polymerization of aziridines

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Frederik Wurm
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers ; Polymer Materials
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271284690

The proposal presents the sequence-controlled anionic polymerization of aziridines. To enable anionic ring-opening polymerization, the aziridine has to be activated by sulfonamides. For the first time different sulfonamides will be investigated with respect to their polymerization behavior and the first functional aziridine monomers for anionic polymerization are presented. The sulfonamide serves two functions: first to remove the acidic proton, i.e. as a protection group, and second to activate the ring by electron withdrawal. The activation has a direct influence on the reactivity of the active chain end (an azaanion), which will allow the first sequence-controlled anionic polymerization depending on the type of the activation group. Different functional groups will be attached to the aziridine (at the ring) and the polymerization behavior will be investigated. The resulting polysulfonamides will be hydrolyzed to release the respective polyamines. These materials will be investigated with respect to their DNA transfection activity. The establishment of a polymer (sequence) structure- DNA transfection activity relation will be conducted and compared to conventional non-viral gene transfection.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants