Synthetic strategies for the design of peptide/polymer conjugates

We review the advantages and drawbacks of the various synthetic strategies for conjugating peptides to synthetic polymers obtained from reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (also known as living radical polymerization, controlled radical polymerization, or controlled/living radical polymerization). By using a selection of examples, we summarize the concept behind divergent and convergent syntheses, which lead to the production of linear and grafted peptide/polymer conjugates. In the second section of this review, we present an overview of a near-universal convergent approach for the production of peptide/polymer conjugates, by combining reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and copper(I)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions between an azide and an alkyne (CuAAC).