Polyglycerols as Multi-Functional Platforms: Synthesis and Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The remarkable and unique characteristics of polyglycerols (PG) have made them an attractive candidate for many applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. The presence of multiple hydroxy groups on the flexible polyether backbone not only enables the further modification of the PG structure but also makes the polymer highly water-soluble and results in excellent biocompatibility. In this review, the polymerization routes leading to PG with different architectures are discussed. Moreover, we discuss the role of these polymers in different biomedical applications such as drug delivery systems, protein conjugation, and surface modification.

Keywords

• linear polyglycerol
• hyperbranched polyglycerol
• ring-opening polymerization of glycidol