Synthesis of unimolecular reversed micelle consisting of a poly(L-lactide) shell and hyperbranchedD-mannan core

Branched polyesters: Preparative strategies and applications

In the last 20years, the availability of precision chemical tools (e.g. controlled/living polymerizations, 'click' reactions) has determined a step change in the complexity of both the macromolecular architecture and the chemical functionality of biodegradable polyesters. A major part in this evolution has been played by the possibilities that controlled macromolecular branching offers in terms of tailored physical/biological performance. This review paper aims to provide an updated overview of preparative techniques that derive hyperbranched, dendritic, comb, grafted polyesters through polycondensation or ring-opening polymerization mechanisms.

One-pot synthesis of hyperstar polymers via sequential ATRP of inimers and functional monomers in aqueous dispersed media

A one-pot synthesis was reported to produce hyperstar polymers with high molecular weight, low polydispersity and no detectable star coupling reactions.

Hyperbranched polymers: advances from synthesis to applications

This review summarizes the advances in hyperbranched polymers from the viewpoint of structure, click synthesis and functionalization towards their applications in the last decade.

Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polymer Using Slow Monomer Addition Method

This paper details the synthesis of a well-defined hyperbranched polymer using a slow monomer addition method. The polymerization under slow monomer addition conditions results in a very low monomer concentration actually present in the reaction mixture, and the exclusive reaction of the monomer with the growing polyfunctional macromolecules occurs, resulting in a high molecular weight and a high degree of branching value. Thus, the slow monomer addition is a versatile and preferential method for the controlled synthesis of a well-defined hyperbranched polymer with both a high molecular weight and a high degree of branching value.

Self-assembly of hyperbranched polymers and its biomedical applications

Hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) are highly branched macromolecules with a three-dimensional dendritic architecture. Due to their unique topological structure and interesting physical/chemical properties, HBPs have attracted wide attention from both academia and industry. In this paper, the recent developments in HBP self-assembly and their biomedical applications have been comprehensively reviewed. Many delicate supramolecular structures from zero-dimension (0D) to three-dimension (3D), such as micelles, fibers, tubes, vesicles, membranes, large compound vesicles and physical gels, have been prepared through the solution or interfacial self-assembly of amphiphilic HBPs. In addition, these supramolecular structures have shown promising applications in the biomedical areas including drug delivery, protein purification/detection/delivery, gene transfection, antibacterial/antifouling materials and cytomimetic chemistry. Such developments promote the interdiscipline researches among surpramolecular chemistry, biomedical chemistry, nano-technology and functional materials.

Fabrication and characterization of a novel inclusion complex of chiral monomer derived from (+)-camphor with beta-cyclodextrins

In order to develop a highly ordered polymer dopant to improve the physical properties of polymer materials for microsystems, a novel supramolecular inclusion complex (IC) of chiral bornyl 4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy) phenyl-4'-benzoate ( BAPB) threaded with beta-cyclodextrins (beta-CDs) was synthesized. The inclusion complex was identified using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV, 13C cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR, 1H NMR, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The construction of the fibrous self-assembled inclusion complex was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The highly ordered polymerized inclusion complex beta-CD-BAPB revealed significant birefringence and was confirmed using polarized optical microscopy (POM). Polymerization of self-assembled nanofibrous monomers with methyl methacrylate was carried out, and the distribution of the nanofibers in the polymer matrix was confirmed using POM. This investigation demonstrates a novel method for the fabrication of polymeric nanofibers with highly ordered, self-assembled functional monomers. The polymeric nanofibers are expected to improve the physical properties of polymer films in the field of microelectric and micromachine systems (MEMS).

Synthesis of Hyperbranched Carbohydrate Polymers by Ring-Opening Multibranching Polymerization of Anhydro Sugar

The synthesis of novel hyperbranched carbohydrate polymers, prepared by the ring-opening multibranching polymerizations of anhydro and dianhydro sugars, is described. The hyperbranched carbohydrate polymers were formed by the cationic polymerization of 1,6-anhydro-beta-D-hexopyranose, 1,4-anhydrotetritol, 2,3-anhydrotetritol, and 1,2:5,6-dianhydro-D-mannitol. These polymerizations proceeded without gelation to produce water-soluble hyperbranched carbohydrate polymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities. The values for the degree of branching of the polymers were in the range of 0.28-0.50. The polymerization method, which proceeds through a ring-opening reaction by a proton-transfer reaction mechanism, is a facile method leading to a spherical carbohydrate polymer with a high degree of branching.