Organic catalysis: enabling functional and biodegradable polycarbonates for drug-resistance solutions

Multi-drug resistant diseases are among the most significant healthcare threats facing society today. For instance, the rapid development of resistance in microbes has complicated the current antimicrobial drug pipeline. To address the multifaceted problem of drug resistance in both infectious diseases and cancer, we have leveraged polymer science to: (1) develop novel macromolecular therapeutics as innovative biologics, and (2) design targeted macromolecular delivery systems for poorly soluble drugs and genes. Specifically, we have developed a monomer platform based on cyclic carbonates, which enables the incorporation of diverse functional groups. The polymerization of these monomers was achieved using environmentally friendly organic catalysts, resulting in biodegradable and biocompatible polycarbonates through an atom-economical and sustainable process. We have designed a large family of catalysts that produce narrowly dispersed polymers with predictable molecular weights, capable of accommodating complex functionalities and architectures. To ensure reproducibility, we have implemented automated polymerization methods using catalysts with rapid kinetics and fast flow rates, allowing for the exploration of a wide variety of polymers as well as scaling up production. This presentation will highlight streamlined synthetic methods for the preparation of polycarbonates and recent advancements in organic catalysts.