title: Controlled polymer synthesis--from biomimicry towards synthetic biology.
abstract: The controlled assembly of synthetic polymer structures is now possible with an unprecedented range of functional groups and molecular architectures. In this critical review we consider how the ability to create artificial materials over lengthscales ranging from a few nm to several microns is generating systems that not only begin to mimic those in nature but also may lead to exciting applications in synthetic biology (139 references).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, P.O. Box 1527, 711 10, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. gpasp@iesl.forth.gr
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasparakis
authors.forename: Natalio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krasnogor
authors.forename: Leroy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cronin
authors.forename: Benjamin G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057005:Bioengineering / Q000379:methods*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001695:Biology / Q000379:methods*; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods*; D002477:Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D011108:Polymers