A collaboration between scientists at IBM (San Jose, CA) and Stanford University (Stanford, CA) has resulted in a breakthrough in the development of new families of organic catalysts. In addition to having potential implications in green plastics and recycling, the advancement in green chemistry could enable the creation of targeted drug-delivery platforms.By applying organocatalysis to synthetic polymer chemistry, the researchers produced a technology with potential application in a range of polymerization techniques and monomer types. For the medical device industry, the organic catalysts could facilitate the fabrication of custom polymers that allow for targeted drug delivery to a specific cell or region in the body. Current delivery methods for combating cancerous cells, in contrast, often impact healthy regions surrounding the cancerous cells owing to their potency, according to the researchers. Furthermore, the team discovered a new strategy for synthesizing high-molecular-weight cyclic polyesters and a generation of biocompatible polymers for use in medical device applications.Read an abstract about this breakthrough in the American Chemical Society journal, Macromolecules. To learn more about sustainable materials for medical applications, check out this feature on green plastics from the March issue of MPMN.