Enzymatic and chemoenzymatic approaches to synthesis of sugar based polymer and hydrogels

We have prepared a variety of sugar-based polymers using enzymatic and chemoenzymatic synthetic methods. In enzymatic synthesis, the regioselectivity of enzymes was used to copolymerize a sugar and a diester to make poly(sucrose adipate). Sugars including sucrose and glucose derivatives such as alpha-methyl glucoside have been used. In chemoenzymatic synthesis, the regioselectivity of enzymes was used to make the sugar-based monomers, while standard free radical or condensation methods were used for polymerization. The sugars could be in the backbone (poly(sucrose adipamide)) or as a pendant group (poly(sugar acetylene)s, poly(sugar acrylate)s, and poly(sugar methacrylate)s). We also prepared poly(sugar acrylate) and poly(sugar methacrylate) hydrogels and their copolymers with acrylic acid. The degree of swelling of these gels was studied as a function of pH and ionic strength. Potential applications of these materials include water absorbents, food additives and drug delivery systems.