Block glycopolymer is a new kind of functional materials with good biodegradability and biocompatibility. Moreover

there are many reactive pendant groups such as hydroxy

amino and carboxy groups in its molecular chain which makes it possible to be further modified and obtain new functions. This kind of material can be widely used as thermoplastic elastomers

compatibilizers

surfactants

biodegradable materials and drug delivery. In this paper

the advances in the synthesis of this kind of materials are briefly reviewed

sugars involving oligosaccharide

cellulose

dextran

amylose and hyaluronan

polymerization methods including free radical polymerization

anionic polymerization

cation polymerization

open-ring polymerization

enzymatic polymerization and coupling polymerization.