Thermoresponsive poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylatels and their bioconjugates - synthesis and solution behavior

Growing interest for polymers containing oligoethylene side groups was observed within last years. Amongst these polymers the poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate]s (POEGMAs) became most important. These polymers are biocompatible. Many of these polymers are thermoresponsive, when dissolved in water or physiological media, exhibit a narrow phase transition range and show only a small hysteresis. This review describes the synthesis and self-organization of homo- and copolymers of OEGMAs of different macromolecular topology. Data about the synthesis of thermoresponsive conjugates of POEGMAs with biologically active species and the possibility to use such conjugates for the synthesis of nanocarriers are discussed.