Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Toothbrush-like Block Copolymers

Synthesis of low glass transition temperature worms comprising a poly(styrene-stat-n-butyl acrylate) core segment via polymerization-induced self-assembly in RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization

Synthesis of nanodimensional polymeric worms of low glass transition temperature using aqueous polymerization-induced self-assembly.

Synthesis, thermoresponsivity and multi-tunable hierarchical self-assembly of multi-responsive (AB)mC miktobrush-coil terpolymers

Stimuli-responsive miktobrush-coil terpolymers can exhibit unique physical properties and hierarchical self-assembly behaviors dependent on composition, concentration and external stimuli.

Amphiphilic multicomponent molecular brushes

Multicomponent molecular brushes containing amphiphilic polymer moieties are promising objects of research of macromolecular chemistry. The development of stimulus-responsive systems sensitive to changes in environmental parameters, based on the molecular brushes, opens up new possibilities for their applications in medicine, biochemistry and microelectronics. The review presents the current understanding of the structures of main types of amphiphilic multicomponent brushes, depending on the chemical nature and type of coupling of the backbone and side chains. The approaches to the controlled synthesis of multicomponent molecular brushes of different architecture are analyzed. Self-assembly processes of multicomponent molecular brushes in selective solvents are considered.

The bibliography includes 259 references.

Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic branched silica derivatives associated with oligomeric medium

Amphiphilic branched silica derivatives associated with oligomeric medium (ASiP) were obtained using tetraethoxysilane, polyoxyethylene glycol and low molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane. The creation of a silica core was based on tetraethoxysilane hydrolysis and condensation reactions by using water and a potassium diethylene glycolate as the catalyst. These reactions proceeded with the sequential participation of polyoxyethylene glycol and polydimethylsiloxane in parallel transetherification reactions. Microporous polymer film based on 2,4-toluene diisocyanate and block copolymers of propylene and ethylene oxides with terminal potassium-alcoholate groups were modified by ASiP. It has been shown that ASiP at the phase interface between thermodynamically incompatible macrochains performs the function of a link. It leads to a significant increase of intermolecular interactions and the supramolecular organization of the modified microporous polymers.

The scheme of ASiP formation.

Polypeptide self-assemblies: nanostructures and bioapplications

Polypeptide copolymers can self-assemble into diverse aggregates. The morphology and structure of aggregates can be varied by changing molecular architectures, self-assembling conditions, and introducing secondary components such as polymers and nanoparticles. Polypeptide self-assemblies have gained significant attention because of their potential applications as delivery vehicles for therapeutic payloads and as additives in the biomimetic mineralization of inorganics. This review article provides an overview of recent advances in nanostructures and bioapplications related to polypeptide self-assemblies. We highlight recent contributions to developing strategies for the construction of polypeptide assemblies with increasing complexity and novel functionality that are suitable for bioapplications. The relationship between the structure and properties of the polypeptide aggregates is emphasized. Finally, we briefly outline our perspectives and discuss the challenges in the field.

The secondary structures of PEG-functionalized random copolymers derived from (R)- and (S)- families of alkyne polycarbodiimides

Macromolecular micelles: a hydrophobic polyamidine backbone surrounded by hydrophilic PEG chains.

Synthesis and self-assembly of polystyrene-based diblock and triblock coil–brush copolymers

Anionic coil–brush, brush–coil–brush and coil–brush–coil type polystyrene-based di- and tri-block copolymers were synthesized and their micellization behavior was compared.

Spontaneous onion shape vesicle formation and fusion of comb-like block copolymers studied by dissipative particle dynamics

The formation of an onion shape vesicle.