Biomimetic materials and micropatterned structures using iniferters.

In the preparation of biomimetic materials it is often required that efficient methods of polymerization be used, often methods that can lead to biomimetic polymers with relatively narrow molecular weight distribution. Living radical polymerization techniques have successfully been used to create low polydispersity linear polymers by free-radical polymerizations. Although this technique slows down the polymerization of multifunctional monomers, there is little effect on the network structure due to the high concentration of pendent double bonds. There are applications of the living radical polymerization in the synthesis of block copolymers. Essentially, the technique involves polymerizing a single type of monomer first to create a macromonomer that is capable of acting as an initiator because of the reversible bond between the polymer end group and the terminating group. This terminating group may be a thiol or a halogen and, under the right conditions, will dissociate to form radicals. A second monomer is then added to the system and the polymerization proceeds with the second monomer chemically attached to the polymer of the first monomer. We review methods of creating biomimetic block copolymers using the iniferter radical polymerization technique. The block copolymers would be used in the synthesis of micropatterned polymer films for use in biomaterials and other biomedical applications.