Metabolic control over organometallic catalysts using electroactive bacteria

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method for effecting atom or group transfer polymerization comprising polymerizing one or more radically-polymerizable monomers in the presence of a system comprising an electrically active micro-organism, a transition metal catalyst, one or more radically-polymerizable monomers, and a radical initiator. Micro-organism respiratory electron flux is harnessed to control the performance of a metal-catalyzed polymerization. The bacterial electron transport pathways of the electroactive micro-organisms can be engineered to tune and adapt various function of the electroactive micro-organism and its role in polymerization. Polymerization may be accomplished under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Freshly cultured micro-organisms or lyophilized micro-organisms may be used to direct polymerization.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.