Abstract
In the first part of this review, we describe the synthesis of nanostructured hybrid materials composed of polysaccharides and synthetic polymers. Amylose–synthetic polymer inclusion complexes were synthesized by amylose-forming polymerization using phosphorylase enzyme in the presence of synthetic polymers such as polyethers and polyesters. Alginate–polymethacrylate hybrid materials were prepared by free-radical polymerization of cationic methacrylate in the presence of sodium alginate. These methods allow the simultaneous control of the nanostructure with polymerization, giving well-defined hybrid materials. In the second part of this review, we describe the synthesis of novel glycopolymers with rigid structures. Polyaniline-based glycopolymers were synthesized by means of oxidative polymerization of N-glycosylaniline. Polysiloxane-based glycopolymers were prepared by means of introduction of sugar-lactone to the rodlike polysiloxane. These glycopolymers had regular higher-ordered structures due to their rigid polymer backbones, resulting in control of the three-dimensional array of sugar-residues.