Poly(2-oxazoline)s as Smart Bioinspired Polymers

Poly(2‐alkyl‐2‐oxazoline)s can be regarded as pseudo‐peptides or bioinspired polymers, which are available through living/controlled cationic polymerization and polymer (“click”) modification procedures. Materials and solution properties may be adjusted via the nature of the side chain (hydrophilic‐hydrophobic, chiral, bio‐functional, etc.), opening the way to stimulus‐responsive materials and complex colloidal structures in aqueous environments. Herein, we give an overview over the macromolecular engineering of polyoxazolines, including the synthesis of biohybrids, and the “smart”/bioinspired aggregation behavior in solution. Synthetic poly(2‐oxazoline)s are considered as pseudo‐peptides exhibiting interesting materials and solution properties including stimuli‐sensitivity and complex/hierarchical self‐assembly. The advanced macromolecular engineering of polyoxazolines, including the synthesis of biohybrids, and the “smart”/bioinspired aggregation behavior in solution are discussed.