A modular approach for multifunctional polymersomes with controlled adhesive properties.

The bottom-up approach in synthetic biology involves the engineering of synthetic cells by designing biological and chemical building blocks, which can be combined in order to mimic cellular functions. The first step for mimicking a living cell is the design of an appropriate compartment featuring a multifunctional membrane. This is of particular interest since it allows for the selective attachment of different groups or molecules to the membrane.

Aziridine termination of living anionic polymerization.

A switch from carbanions to aza-anions is performed by the addition of N-tosylaziridine (TAz) to living poly(styryl) (PS) chains. This is the first example of carbanionic aziridine ring-opening which was previously activated by amidation with a tosyl group to enable nucleophilic ring-opening by the living chain end. Poly(styrene)-tosylaziridines (PS-TAz) with narrow molecular weight distributions and variable molecular weights are synthesized.