Recent Advances in Modifications, Properties and Applications of 2-Isopropyl-2-Oxazoline (Co)Polymers

The homopolymer of 2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline (iPrOx) and iPrOx copolymers are extensively studied in recent years, and the interest on them is still growing. Poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) (PiPrOx), known as thermoresponsive pseudopeptide, exhibits a phase transition in aqueous solution at a temperature near human body temperature and is nontoxic to many cell lines. These facts make this polymer potentially attractive for many bioapplications. PiPrOx is similar in chemical structure to poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and is considered as the alternative to this so-called “gold standard” thermoresponsive polymer, however significant differences in properties of these two polymers are worth attention. To control the properties, that directly translate into application possibilities, iPrOx was copolymerized with a wide range of different monomers, and, optionally, the obtained copolymers have been variously modified. This review summarizes the few-years-back research accomplishments and progress in studies on PiPrOx and iPrOx-based copolymers. Considering the recent developments, the properties of iPrOx-based (co)polymers are shown, aiming at promoting their great potential in the biomedical field. Having gathered the information on modification possibilities, structure-property relationship and applications, especially in the biomedical field, a bit of speculation on the future prospects of iPrOx-based (co)polymers is given.