Biological surface modification by 'thiol-ene' addition of polymers synthesised by catalytic chain transfer polymerisation (CCTP)Electronic Supplementary Information (ESI) available additional experimental details. See DOI: 10.1039/c2py20040f

Copolymers of oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylates and allyl methacrylate have been synthesised by catalytic chain transfer polymerisation (CCTP) and reacted with α-keratin in human hair via Michael addition to cysteine residues. Further modification of the polymer conjugates was carried out using a fluorescent tag as a model via achieved thiol-ene chemistry. Reactive copolymers from catalytic chain transfer polymerisation (CCTP) have been utilised for conjugation to alpha keratin and for surface modification of human hair via thiol-ene Michael addition to cysteine residues.