New Approaches to Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization and Their Realization in the Synthesis of Functional Polymers and Hybrid Macromolecular Structures

Recent advances in controlled atom transfer radical polymerization are reviewed. Polymerization techniques carried out in the presence of small catalyst amounts, as well as air oxygen traces, are addressed. Particular attention is given to processes occurring under the action of light and near UV radiation. Latest achievements of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization in the modification of solid surfaces of inorganic substrates and organic polymers by grafting polymer chains are analyzed. Potential of the method for synthesizing conjugates with proteins and nucleic acids, which are of interest as biosensors and target drug delivery agents, is also demonstrated.