Polymer suitable for use in cell culture

1. A process for making an oligo(alkylene glycol) functionalized co-polyisocyanopeptide, wherein the process comprises the steps of:

i) copolymerizing

a first comonomer of an oligo(alkylene glycol) functionalized isocyanopeptide grafted with a linking group and

a second comonomer of a non-grafted oligo(alkylene glycol) functionalized isocyanopeptide,

wherein a molar ratio between the first comonomer and the second comonomer is 1:500 and 1:30 and

ii) adding a reactant of a spacer unit and a cell adhesion factor to the copolymer obtained by step i), wherein the spacer unit is represented by general formula A-L-B,

wherein the linking group and group A are chosen to react and form a first coupling and the cell adhesion factor and group B are chosen to react and form a second coupling,

wherein the first coupling and the second coupling are independently an alkyne-azide coupling, dibenzocyclooctyne-azide coupling, oxanorbornadiene-based-azide couplings, vinylsulphone-thiol coupling, maleimide-thiol coupling, methyl methacrylate-thiol coupling, ether coupling, thioether coupling, biotin-strepavidin coupling, amine-carboxylic acid resulting in amides linkages, alcohol-carboxylic acid coupling resulting in esters linkages or NHS-Ester (N-Hydroxysuccinimide ester)-amine coupling and

wherein group L is a linear chain segment having 10-60 bonds between atoms selected from C, N, O and S in the main chain.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein group L is chosen from:

where p is 1 to 10, or

where q is 1 to 9, or

where r is 1 to 10.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the first coupling is the alkyne-azide coupling.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the second coupling is the NHS-ester (N-Hydroxysuccinimide ester)-amine coupling or the maleimide-thiol coupling.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein group A is represented by formula (VII):

wherein:

n is 0 to 8;

R 3 is [(L) p -Q], hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl groups, C 6 -C 24 (hetero)aryl groups, C 7 -C 24 alkyl(hetero)aryl groups or C 7 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkyl groups, the alkyl groups optionally being interrupted by one of more hetero-atoms selected from the group consisting of O, N and S, wherein the alkyl groups, (hetero)aryl groups, alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and (hetero)arylalkyl groups are independently optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from C 1 -C 12 alkyl groups, C 2 -C 12 alkenyl groups, C 2 -C 12 alkynyl groups, C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyl groups, C 1 -C 12 alkoxy groups, C 2 -C 12 alkenyloxy groups, C 2 -C 12 alkynyloxy groups, C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyloxy groups, halogens, amino groups, oxo groups and silyl groups, wherein the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkenyloxy groups, alkynyloxy groups and cycloalkyloxy groups are optionally substituted, the alkyl groups, the alkoxy groups, the cycloalkyl groups and the cycloalkoxy groups being optionally interrupted by one of more hetero-atoms selected from O, N and S, wherein the silyl groups are represented by the formula (R 4 ) 3 Si—, wherein R 4 is independently selected from C 1 -C 12 alkyl groups, C 2 -C 12 alkenyl groups, C 2 -C 12 alkynyl groups, C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyl groups, C 1 -C 12 alkoxy groups, C 2 -C 12 alkenyloxy groups, C 2 -C 12 alkynyloxy groups and C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyloxy groups, wherein the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkenyloxy groups, alkynyloxy groups and cycloalkyloxy groups are optionally substituted, the alkyl groups, the alkoxy groups, the cycloalkyl groups and the cycloalkoxy groups being optionally interrupted by one of more hetero-atoms selected from O, N and S;

R 1 is independently selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl groups, C 6 -C 24 (hetero)aryl groups, C 7 -C 24 alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C 7 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkyl groups; and

R 2 is independently selected from halogen, —OR 6 , —NO 2 ,—CN, —S(O) 2 R 6 , C 1 -C 12 alkyl groups, C 1 -C 12 aryl groups, C 1 -C 12 alkylaryl groups and C 1 -C 12 arylalkyl groups, and wherein the alkyl groups, aryl groups, alkylaryl groups and arylalkyl groups are optionally substituted;

L is a linking group selected from linear or branched C 1 -C 24 alkylene groups, C 2 -C 24 alkenylene groups, C 2 -C 24 alkynylene groups, C 3 -C 24 cycloalkylene groups, C 5 -C 24 cycloalkenylene groups, C 8 -C 24 cycloalkynylene groups, C 7 -C 24 alkyl(hetero)arylene groups, C 7 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkylene groups, C 8 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkenylene groups, C 9 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkynylene groups, the alkylene groups, alkenylene groups, alkynylene groups, cycloalkylene groups, cycloalkenylene groups, cycloalkynylene groups, alkyl(hetero)arylene groups, (hetero)arylalkylene groups, (hetero)arylalkenylene groups and (hetero)arylalkynylene groups optionally being substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 12 alkyl groups, C 2 -C 12 alkenyl groups, C 2 -C 12 alkynyl groups, C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyl groups, C 5 -C 12 cycloalkenyl groups, C 8 -C 12 cycloalkenyl groups, C 1 -C 12 alkoxy groups, C 2 -C 12 alkenyloxy groups, C 2 -C 12 alkynyloxy groups, C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyloxy groups, halogens, amino groups, oxo and silyl groups, wherein the silyl groups can be represented by the formula (R 4 ) 3 Si—, wherein R 4 is defined as above;

Q is a functional group selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, R 6 , —CH═C(R 6 ) 2 ,—C≡CR 6 , —[C(R 6 ) 2 C(R 6 ) 2 O] Q —R 6 , wherein q is in the range of 1 to 200, —CN, —N 3 , —NCX, —XCN, —XR 6 , —N(R 6 ) 2 , -+N(R 6 ) 3 , —C(X)N(R 6 ) 2 , —C(R 6 ) 2 XR 6 , —C(X)R 6 , —C(X)XR 6 , —S(O)R 6 , —S(O)2R 6 , —S(O)OR 6 , —S(O)2OR 6 , —S(O)N(R 6 ) 2 , —S(O) 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , —OS(O)R 6 , —OS(O) 2 R 6 , —OS(O)OR 6 , —OS(O) 2 OR 6 , —P(O)(R 6 )(OR 6 ), —P(O)(OR 6 ) 2 , —OP(O)(OR 6 ) 2 , —Si(R 6 ) 3 , —XC(X)R 6 , —XC(X)XR 6 , —XC(X)N(R 6 ) 2 , —N(R 6 )C(X)R 6 , —N(R 6 )C(X)XR 6 and —N(R 6 )C(X)N(R 6 ) 2 , wherein X is oxygen or sulphur;

R 6 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl groups, C 6 -C 24 (hetero)aryl groups, C 7 -C 24 alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C 7 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkyl groups; and

wherein p is 0 or 1.

6. The process according to claim 5 , wherein the spacer unit is represented by formula (IX):

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and n are as defined in claim 5 and

L is selected from the group represented by formula (X):

wherein p is 2 to 5.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the spacer unit is represented by formula (XI):

wherein p is 2 to 5.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the average of the number of the alkylene glycol units on the first comonomer and the second comonomer is at least 3 and at most 4.

9. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the first coupling is alkyne-azide coupling.

10. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the second coupling is the NHS-ester (N-Hydroxysuccinimide ester)-amine coupling or the maleimide-thiol coupling, wherein group A is represented by formula (VII):

wherein:

n is 0 to 8;

R 3 is [(L) p -Q], hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl groups, C 6 -C 24 (hetero)aryl groups, C 7 -C 24 alkyl(hetero)aryl groups or C 7 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkyl groups, the alkyl groups optionally being interrupted by one of more hetero-atoms selected from the group consisting of O, N and S, wherein the alkyl groups, (hetero)aryl groups, alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and (hetero)arylalkyl groups are independently optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from C 1 -C 12 alkyl groups, C 2 -C 12 alkenyl groups, C 2 -C 12 alkynyl groups, C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyl groups, C 1 -C 12 alkoxy groups, C 2 -C 12 alkenyloxy groups, C 2 -C 12 alkynyloxy groups, C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyloxy groups, halogens, amino groups, oxo groups and silyl groups, wherein the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkenyloxy groups, alkynyloxy groups and cycloalkyloxy groups are optionally substituted, the alkyl groups, the alkoxy groups, the cycloalkyl groups and the cycloalkoxy groups being optionally interrupted by one of o e hetero-atoms selected from O, N and S, wherein the silyl groups are represented by the formula (R 4 ) 3 Si—, wherein R 4 is independently selected from C 1 -C 12 alkyl groups, C 2 -C 12 alkenyl groups, C 2 -C 12 alkynyl groups, C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyl groups, C 1 -C 12 alkoxy groups, C 2 -C 12 alkenyloxy groups, C 2 -C 12 alkynyloxy groups and C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyloxy groups, wherein the alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkenyloxy groups, alkynyloxy groups and cycloalkyloxy groups are optionally substituted, the alkyl groups, the alkoxy groups, the cycloalkyl groups and the cycloalkoxy groups being optionally interrupted by one of more hetero-atoms selected from O, N and S;

R 1 is independently selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl groups, C 6 -C 24 (hetero)aryl groups, C 7 -C 24 alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C 7 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkyl groups; and

R 2 is independently selected from halogen, —OR 6 , —NO 2 , —CN, —S(O) 2 R 6 , C 1 -C 12 alkyl groups, C 1 -C 12 aryl groups, C 1 -C 12 alkylaryl groups and C 1 -C 12 arylalkyl groups, and wherein the alkyl groups, aryl groups, alkylaryl groups and arylalkyl groups are optionally substituted;

L is a linking group selected from linear or branched C 1 -C 24 alkylene groups, C 2 -C 24 alkenylene groups, C 2 -C 24 alkynylene groups, C 3 -C 24 cycloalkylene groups, C 5 -C 24 cycloalkenylene groups, C 8 -C 24 cycloalkynylene groups, C 7 -C 24 alkyl(hetero)arylene groups, C 7 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkylene groups, C 8 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkenylene groups, C 9 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkynylene groups, the alkylene groups, alkenylene groups, alkynylene groups, cycloalkylene groups, cycloalkenylene groups, cycloalkynylene groups, alkyl(hetero)arylene groups, (hetero)arylalkylene groups, (hetero)arylalkenylene groups and (hetero)arylalkynylene groups optionally being substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 12 alkyl groups, C 2 -C 12 alkenyl groups, C 2 -C 12 alkynyl groups, C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyl groups, C 5 -C 12 cycloalkenyl groups, C 8 -C 12 cycloalkynyl groups, C 1 -C 12 alkoxy groups, C 2 -C 12 alkenyloxy groups, C 2 -C 12 alkynyloxy groups, C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyloxy groups, halogens, amino groups, oxo and silyl groups, wherein the silyl groups can be represented by the formula (R 4 ) 3 Si—, wherein R 4 is defined as above;

Q is a functional group selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, R 6 , —CH═C(R 6 ) 2 , —C≡CR 6 , —[C(R 6 ) 2 C(R 6 ) 2 O] Q —R 6 , wherein q is in the range of 1 to 200, —CN, —N 3 , —NCX, —XCN, —XR 6 , —N(R 6 ) 2 , -+N(R 6 ) 3 , —C(X)N(R 6 ) 2 , —C(R 6 ) 2 XR 6 , —C(X)R 6 , —C(X)XR 6 , —S(O)R 6 , —S(O)2R 6 , —S(O)OR 6 , —S(O)2OR 6 , —S(O)N(R 6 ) 2 , —S(O) 2 N(R 6 ) 2 , —OS(O)R 6 , —OS(O) 2 R 6 , —OS(O)OR 6 , —OS(O) 2 OR 6 , —P(O)(R 6 )(OR 6 ), —P(O)(OR 6 ) 2 , —OP(O)(OR 6 ) 2 , —Si(R 6 ) 3 , —XC(X)R 6 , —XC(X)XR 6 , —XC(X)N(R 6 ) 2 , —N(R 6 )C(X)R 6 , —N(R 6 )C(X)XR 6 and —N(R 6 )C(X)N(R 6 ) 2 , wherein X is oxygen or sulphur;

R 6 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl groups, C 6 -C 24 (hetero)aryl groups, C 7 -C 24 alkyl(hetero)aryl groups and C 7 -C 24 (hetero)arylalkyl groups; and

wherein p is 0 or 1,

wherein the spacer unit is represented by formula (IX):

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and n are as defined above and

L is selected from the group represented by formula (X):

wherein p is 2 to 5.

11. The process according to claim 9 , wherein he spacer unit is represented by formula (XI):

wherein p is 2 to 5.

12. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the cell adhesion factor is chosen from a sequence of amino acids that is RGD.