Molecular dynamics simulation study of linear, bottlebrush, and star-like amphiphilic block polymer assembly in solution

3D Printing of Aqueous Two-Phase Systems with Linear and Bottlebrush Polyelectrolytes

We formed core-shell-like polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) from an anionic bottlebrush polymer with poly (acrylic acid) side chains with a cationic linear poly (allylamine hydrochloride). By varying the pH, the number of side chains of the polyanionic BB polymers (Nbb), the charge density of the polyelectrolytes, and the salt concentration, the phase separation behavior and salt resistance of the complexes could be tuned by the conformation of the BBs. By combining the linear/bottlebrush polyelectrolyte complexation with all-liquid 3D printing, flow-through tubular constructs were produced that showed selective transport across the PEC membrane comprising the walls of the tubules. These tubular constructs afford a new platform for flow-through delivery systems.

Phase Behavior and Conformational Asymmetry near the Comb-to-Bottlebrush Transition in Linear-Brush Block Copolymers

This study explores how conformational asymmetry influences the bulk phase behavior of linear-brush block copolymers. We synthesized 60 diblock copolymers composed of poly(trifluoroethyl methacrylate) as the linear block and poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] as the brush block, varying the molecular weight, composition, and side-chain length to introduce different degrees of conformational asymmetry. Using small-angle X-ray scattering, we determined the morphology and phase diagrams for three different side-chain length systems, mainly observing lamellar and cylindrical phases. Increasing the side-chain length of the brush block from three to nine ethylene oxide units introduces sufficient asymmetry between the blocks to alter the phase behavior, shifting the lamellar-to-cylindrical transitions toward lower brush block compositions and transitioning the brush block from the dense comb-like regime to the bottlebrush regime. Coarse-grained simulations support our experimental observations and provide a mapping between the composition and conformational asymmetry. A comparison of our findings to strong stretching theory across multiple phase boundary predictions confirms the transition between the dense comb-like regime and the bottlebrush regime.

All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Uncharged Linear Polymer Bottlebrushes: Effect of the Brush Sizes and the Number of Side-Chain Monomers

Bottlebrush polymers (BBPs), characterized by grafted polymer side chains on linear backbone polymer chain, have emerged as a unique and versatile class of macromolecules with extensive applications in the fields of material science, electronics, battery materials, self-healing technology, etc. In this paper, we employ all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to present a comprehensive study of poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PMMA-g-PEtOx) BBP and its structural and hydration properties for varying number of backbone monomers (NBB) and side chain monomers (NSC), as well as properties of water molecules supported by the BBP. We find that the radius of gyration follows a scaling of Rg ∼NSC0.36 for smaller grafts and Rg ∼ NSC0.52-0.58 for longer grafts. We also find that the overall shape of the bottlebrush goes from a rod to sphere-like shape with the increase in NSC. Both the hydration per side chain monomer and hydrogen bonds (HBs) per oxygen and nitrogen of the side chain monomer reduce with an increase in NSC, caused by a corresponding enhancement in localization of the side chain monomers in the interior of the BBP. Furthermore, steric influences ensure the number of water-oxygen HBs is much more than the number of water-nitrogen HBs (with oxygen and nitrogen atoms belonging to the monomer side chains). Also, the BBP-supported water molecules demonstrate two distinctly ordered domains with one more structured and one less structured. The more structured domain disappears with an increase in NSC that causes more side chain monomers to localize in the interior of the BBPs. Finally, we observe that despite the highly negative partial charges of the oxygen and nitrogen atoms (of the side chain monomers), the dipole orientation distributions of water molecules around these atoms exhibit the presence of a neutral environment rather than an anionic environment. Overall, we anticipate that our study will generate significant interest in probing the various BBP systems in greater atomistic detail.

Mechanochemistry in Block Copolymers: New Scission Site due to Dynamic Phase Separation

Mechanochemistry can lead to the degradation of the properties of covalent macromolecules. In recent years, numerous functional materials have been developed based on block copolymers (BCPs), however, like homopolymers, their chains could undergo mechanochemical damage during processing, which could have crucial impact on their performance. To investigate the mechanochemical response of BCPs, multiple polymers comprising different ratios of butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate were prepared with similar degree of polymerization and stressed in solution via ultrasonication. Interestingly, all BCPs, regardless of the amount of the methacrylate monomer, presented a mechanochemistry rate constant similar to that of the methacrylate homopolymer, while a random copolymer reacted like the acrylate homopolymer. Size-exclusion chromatography showed that, in addition to the typical main peak shift towards higher retention times, a different daughter fragment was produced indicating a secondary selective scission site, situated around the covalent connection between the two blocks. Molecular dynamics modeling using acrylate and methacrylate oligomers were carried out and indicated that dynamic phase separation occurs even in a good solvent. Such non-random conformations can explain the faster polymer mechanochemistry. Moreover, the dynamic model for end-to-end chain overstretching supports bond scission which is not necessarily chain-centered.

Segmental mobility in sustainable copolymers based on poly(lactic acid) blocks built onto poly(butylene succinate) in situ

Two series of newly synthesized sustainable block copolymers based on poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu) and polylactide (PLA) were studied. The copolymers were synthesized by a ring-opening polymerization of PLA in the presence of two initial PBSu of low molar mass. We focused on the effects of the PBSu/PLA ratio (1/99 up to 15/85), chain length and initial PBSu length on the final thermal transitions in the copolymers with an emphasis on molecular mobility/dynamics and subsequently on crystallization. Both aspects are considered relevant to the final materials performance, as well as facilitation of polymer renewability. Calorimetry and dielectric spectroscopy were the main investigation tools. In the amorphous state (i.e., in which the direct effects of copolymer structure are assessable), the segmental mobility of neat PLA was significantly faster in the copolymers. Segmental mobility was monitored via the decrease in the calorimetric and dielectric (α relaxation) glass-transition temperatures, Tg and Tg,diel, respectively. The effect was systematic with an increase in the PBSu/PLA ratio, and was rationalized through the plasticizing role of PBSu (low-Tg component) and facilitated also by the simultaneous lowering of the chain length in the copolymers. Dielectric spectroscopy allowed evaluation of the dynamical fragility (cooperativity) of chains, which was strongly suppressed in the copolymers. This finding suggested an increase in free volume or a gradual increase of interchain distances. This phenomenon could favor the natural enzymatic degradation of the systems (compostability), which is limited in neat PLA. We recorded enhancement of nucleation and the crystalline fraction in the copolymers that was likely connected with faster chain diffusion. Further lowering of the Tg with the implementation of crystallization was noted (which seemed a controversial effect) but which indicated crystallization-induced phase separation.

Conformation of a Comb-like Chain in Solution: Effect of Backbone Rigidity

We study the effect of backbone rigidity on the conformation of comb-like chains in dilute solution by using Brownian dynamics simulations. Our results demonstrate that the backbone rigidity can control the effect of side chains on the conformation of comb-like chains; that is, the relative strength of the excluded-volume interactions from backbone monomer-graft and graft-graft to backbone monomer-monomer gradually weakens with the increase of backbone rigidity. Only when the rigidity of the backbone tends to be flexible and the grafting density is high is the effect of excluded volume of graft-graft on the conformation of comb-like chains significant enough, and other cases can be ignored. Our results show that the radius of gyration of comb-like chains and the persistence length of the backbone are exponentially related to the stretching factor, where the power exponent exhibits an increase with the increase of the strength of bending energy. These finds provide new insights for characterizing the structure properties of comb-like chains.

Loose Semirigid Aromatic Polyester Bottle Brushes at Poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) Side Chains of Various Lengths: Behavior in Solutions and Thermoresponsiveness

A polycondensation aromatic polyester with an oxygen spacer was synthesized and used as a macroinitiator for the grafting of linear poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) (PiPrOx) by the cationic polymerization method. The length of the thermosensitive side chains was varied by the initiator:monomer ratio. Using methods of molecular hydrodynamics, light scattering and turbidimetry, the copolymers were studied in organic solvents and in water. The molecular characteristics of the main chain and graft copolymers, the polymerization degree of side chains and their grafting density have been determined. The equilibrium rigidity of the macroinitiator and the conformations of grafted macromolecules were evaluated. In selective solvents, they take on a star-like conformation or aggregate depending on the degree of shielding of the main chain by side chains. The thermoresponsiveness of graft copolymers in aqueous solutions was studied, and their LCST were estimated. The results are compared with data for graft copolymers composed of PiPrOx side chains and flexible or rigid chain backbones of aromatic polyester type.

Morphological Transitions in Micelles of Amphiphilic Bottlebrushes upon the Adsorption and Compression at the Liquid Interface

Densely grafted comb-like macromolecules (bottlebrushes) with alternating solvophobic and solvophilic side chains were studied in a selective solvent and at the liquid interface using mesoscopic computer simulations. The effects of backbone length and copolymer composition were considered. While self-assembly in solution revealed only spherical aggregates for all ar-chitectures studied, adsorption onto the liquid interface in particular cases resulted in morpho-logical changes, with worm-like aggregates or a continuous monolayer observed. In turn, the compression of macromolecules at the interface also leads to morphological transitions, includ-ing the formation of a mesh-like percolated structure. The obtained results may be useful for the preparation of solid nanoparticles of anisotropic shape or nanostructured ultra-thin copolymer films.

Concentration-Driven Self-Assembly of PS-b-PLA Bottlebrush Diblock Copolymers in Solution

Bottlebrush polymers are a class of semiflexible, hierarchical macromolecules with unique potential for shape-, architecture-, and composition-based structure–property design. It is now well-established that in dilute to semidilute solution, bottlebrush homopolymers adopt a wormlike conformation, which decreases in extension (persistence length) as the concentration and molecular overlap increase. By comparison, the solution phase self-assembly of bottlebrush diblock copolymers (BBCP) in a good solvent remains poorly understood, despite critical relevance for solution processing of ordered phases and photonic crystals. In this work, we combine small-angle X-ray scattering, coarse-grained simulation, and polymer synthesis to map the equilibrium phase behavior and conformation of a set of large, nearly symmetric PS-b-PLA bottlebrush diblock copolymers in toluene. Three BBCP are synthesized, with side chains of number-averaged molecular weights of 4500 (PS) and 4200 g/mol (PLA) and total backbone degrees of polymerization of 100, 255, and 400 repeat units. The grafting density is one side chain per backbone repeat unit. With increasing concentration in solution, all three polymers progress through a similar structural transition: from dispersed, wormlike chains with concentration-dependent (decreasing) extension, through the onset of disordered PS/PLA compositional fluctuations, to the formation of a long-range ordered lamellar phase. With increasing concentration in the microphase-separated regimes, the domain spacing increases as individual chains partially re-extend due to block immiscibility. Increases in the backbone degree of polymerization lead to changes in the scattering profiles which are consistent with the increased segregation strength. Coarse-grained simulations using an implicit side-chain model are performed, and concentration-dependent self-assembly behavior is qualitatively matched to experiments. Finally, using the polymer with the largest backbone length, we demonstrate that lamellar phases develop a well-defined photonic band gap in solution, which can be tuned across the visible spectrum by varying polymer concentration.

Aqueous lubrication and wear properties of nonionic bottle-brush polymers

The usage of aqueous lubricants in eco-friendly bio-medical friction systems has attracted significant attention. Several bottle-brush polymers with generally ionic functional groups have been developed based on the structure of biological lubricant lubricin. However, hydrophilic nonionic brush polymers have attracted less attention, especially in terms of wear properties. We developed bottle-brush polymers (BP) using hydrophilic 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), a highly biocompatible yet nonionic molecule. The lubrication properties of polymer films were analyzed in an aqueous state using a ball-on-disk, which revealed that BPHEMA showed a lower aqueous friction coefficient than linear poly(HEMA), even lower than hyaluronic acid (HA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which are widely used as lubricating polymers. Significantly, we discovered that the combination of HA, PVA, and BPHEMA is demonstrated to be essential in influencing the surface wear properties; the ratio of 1 : 2 (HA : BPHEMA) had the maximum wear resistance, despite a slight increase in the aqueous friction coefficient.

Mesoscale Modeling of Agglomeration of Molecular Bottlebrushes: Focus on Conformations and Clustering Criteria

Using dissipative particle dynamics, we characterize dynamics of aggregation of molecular bottlebrushes in solvents of various qualities by tracking the number of clusters, the size of the largest cluster, and an average aggregation number. We focus on a low volume fraction of bottlebrushes in a range of solvents and probe three different cutoff criteria to identify bottlebrushes belonging to the same cluster. We demonstrate that the cutoff criteria which depend on both the coordination number and the length of the side chain allows one to correlate the agglomeration status with the structural characteristics of bottlebrushes in solvents of various qualities. We characterize conformational changes of the bottlebrush within the agglomerates with respect to those of an isolated bottlebrush in the same solvents. The characterization of bottlebrush conformations within the agglomerates is an important step in understanding the relationship between the bottlebrush architecture and material properties. An analysis of three distinct cutoff criteria to identify bottlebrushes belonging to the same cluster introduces a framework to identify both short-lived transient and long-lived agglomerates; the same approach could be further extended to characterize agglomerates of various macromolecules with complex architectures beyond the specific bottlebrush architecture considered herein.

Direct and indirect effects on molecular mobility in renewable polylactide-poly(propylene adipate) block copolymers as studied via dielectric spectroscopy and calorimetry

In this work, we study a series of sustainable block copolymers based on polylactide, PLA, and poly(propylene adipate), PPAd, both polymers being prepared from renewable resources. Envisaging a wide range of future applications in the frame of a green and circular economy, e.g., packaging materials replacing conventional petrochemicals, the employment of PPAd aims at lowering the glass transition and melting temperatures of PLA and, finally, facilitation of the enzymatic degradation and compostability. The copolymers have been synthesized via ring opening polymerization of lactides in the presence of propylene adipate oligomers (5, 15 and 25%). The direct effects on the molecular mobility by the structure/composition are assessed in the amorphous state employing broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and calorimetry. BDS allowed the recording of local PLA and PPAd dynamics in all cases. The effects on local relaxations suggest favoring of interchain interactions, both PLA-PPAd and PPAd-PPAd. Regarding the more important segmental dynamics, the presence of PPAd leads to faster polymer chain diffusion, as monitored by the significant lowering of the dielectric and calorimetric glass transition temperature, T_g. This suggests the plasticizing role of PPAd on PLA (majority) in combination with the lowering of the average molar mass, M_n, in the copolymers from ∼75 to ∼30 kg mol^-1, which is the actual scope for the synthesis of these materials. Interestingly, a strong suppression in fragility (chain cooperativity) is additionally recorded. In contrast to calorimetry and due to the high resolving power of BDS, for the higher PPAd fraction, the weak segmental relaxation of PPAd was additionally recorded. Overall, the recordings suggest a strong increase in free volume and two individual dynamic states, one for 0 and 5% PPAd and another for 15 and 25% PPAd. Within the latter, we gained indications for partial phase nano-separation of PPAd. Regarding indirect effects, these were followed via crystallization. Independent of the method of crystallization, namely, melt or cold, the presence of PPAd led to the systematic lowering of crystallization and melting temperatures and enthalpies. The effects reflect the decrease of crystalline nuclei, which is confirmed by optical microscopy as in the copolymers fewer although larger crystals are formed.

Synthesis and Micellization of Bottlebrush Poloxamers

Bottlebrush polymers are characterized by an expansive parameter space, including graft length and spacing along the backbone, and these features impact various structural and physical properties such as molecular diffusion and bulk viscosity. In this work, we report a synthetic strategy for making grafted block polymers with poly(propylene oxide) and poly(ethylene oxide) side chains, bottlebrush analogues of poloxamers. Combined anionic and sequential ring-opening metathesis polymerization yielded low dispersity polymers, at full conversion of the macromonomers, with control over graft length, graft end-groups, and overall molecular weight. A set of bottlebrush poloxamers (BBPs), with identical graft lengths and composition, was synthesized over a range of molecular weights. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize micelle formation in aqueous buffer. The critical micelle concentration scales exponentially with overall molecular weight for both linear and bottlebrush poloxamers; however, the bottlebrush architecture shifts micelle formation to a much higher concentration at a comparable molecular weight. Consequently, BBPs can exist in solution as unimers at significantly higher molecular weights and concentrations than the linear analogues.

Interaction potential for coarse-grained models of bottlebrush polymers

Bottlebrush polymers are a class of highly branched macromolecules that show promise for applications such as self-assembled photonic materials and tunable elastomers. However, computational studies of bottlebrush polymer solutions and melts remain challenging due to the high computational cost involved in explicitly accounting for the presence of side chains. Here, we consider a coarse-grained molecular model of bottlebrush polymers where the side chains are modeled implicitly, with the aim of expediting simulations by accessing longer length and time scales. The key ingredients of this model are the size of a coarse-grained segment and a suitably coarse-grained interaction potential between the non-bonded segments. Prior studies have not focused on developing explicit forms of such potentials, instead, relying on scaling arguments to model non-bonded interactions. Here, we show how to systematically calculate an interaction potential between the coarse-grained segments of bottlebrush from finer grained explicit side chain models using Monte Carlo and Brownian dynamics and then incorporate it into an implicit side chain model. We compare the predictions from our coarse-grained implicit side chain model with those obtained from models with explicit side chains in terms of the potential of mean force, the osmotic second virial coefficient, and the interpenetration function, highlighting the range of applicability and limitations of the coarse-grained representation. Although presented in the context of homopolymer bottlebrushes in athermal solvents, our proposed method can be extended to other solvent conditions as well as to different monomer chemistries. We expect that our implicit side chain model will prove useful for accelerating large-scale simulations of bottlebrush solutions and assembly.

Surface Topography of Polyethylene Glycol Shell Nanoparticles Formed from Bottlebrush Block Copolymers Controls Interactions with Proteins and Cells

Although poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is commonly used in nanoparticle design, the impact of surface topography on nanoparticle performance in biomedical applications has received little attention, despite showing significant promise in the study of inorganic nanoparticles. Control of the surface topography of polymeric nanoparticles is a formidable challenge due to the limited conformational control of linear polymers that form the nanoparticle surface. In this work, we establish a straightforward method to precisely tailor the surface topography of PEGylated polymeric nanoparticles based on tuning the architecture of shape-persistent amphiphilic bottlebrush block copolymer (BBCP) building blocks. We demonstrate that nanoparticle formation and surface topography can be controlled by systematically changing the structural parameters of BBCP architecture. Furthermore, we reveal that the surface topography of PEGylated nanoparticles significantly affects their performance. In particular, the adsorption of a model protein and the uptake into HeLa cells were closely correlated to surface roughness and BBCP terminal PEG block brush width. Overall, our work elucidates the importance of surface topography in nanoparticle research as well as provides an approach to improve the performance of PEGylated nanoparticles.

Self-Assembly of Bottlebrush Block Copolymers in Selective Solvent: Micellar Structures

Block copolymers comprising chemically different bottlebrush blocks can self-assemble in selective solvents giving rise to micellar-like solution nanostructures. The self-consistent field theoretical approach is used for predicting relation between architectural parameters of both bottlebrush blocks (polymerization degrees of the main and side chains, density of grafting of the side chains to the backbone) and structural properties of micelles as well as critical micelle concentration (CMC). As predicted by the theory, replacement of linear blocks by bottlebrush ones with the same degrees of polymerization results in a decrease in the micellar core size (in aggregation number) and extension of the corona, whereas the CMC increases. These theoretical findings are in good agreement with results of computer simulations.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation for Evaluating Fracture Entropy of a Polymer Material under Various Combined Stress States

Herein, the stress-state dependence of fracture entropy for a polyamide 6 material is investigated through molecular dynamics simulations. Although previous research suggests that a constant entropy increase can be universally applied for the definition of material fracture, the dependence of stress triaxiality has not yet been discussed. In this study, entropy values are evaluated by molecular dynamics simulations with varied combined stress states. The calculation is implemented using the 570,000 all-atom model. Similar entropy values are obtained independently of stress triaxiality. This study also reveals the relationship between material damage, which is correlated with void size, and the entropy value.

Mesoscale Simulations of Polymer Solution Self-Assembly: Selection of Model Parameters within an Implicit Solvent Approximation

Coarse-grained modeling is an outcome of scientific endeavors to address the broad spectrum of time and length scales encountered in polymer systems. However, providing a faithful structural and dynamic characterization/description is challenging for several reasons, particularly in the selection of appropriate model parameters. By using a hybrid particle- and field-based approach with a generalized energy functional expressed in terms of density fields, we explore model parameter spaces over a broad range and map the relation between parameter values with experimentally measurable quantities, such as single-chain scaling exponent, chain density, and interfacial and surface tension. The obtained parameter map allows us to successfully reproduce experimentally observed polymer solution assembly over a wide range of concentrations and solvent qualities. The approach is further applied to simulate structure and shape evolution in emulsified block copolymer droplets where concentration and domain shape change continuously during the process.

Synthesis, Structure, Hydrodynamics and Thermoresponsiveness of Graft Copolymer with Aromatic Polyester Backbone at Poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) Side Chains

New thermoresponsive graft copolymers with an aromatic polyester backbone and poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) (PiPrOx) side chains are synthesized and characterized by NMR and GPC. The grafting density of side chains is 0.49. The molar masses of the graft-copolymer, its backbone, side chains, and the modeling poly-2-isopropyl-2-oxaziline are 74,000, 19,000, 4300, and 16,600 g·mol⁻¹, respectively. Their conformational properties in nitropropane as well as thermoresponsiveness in aqueous solutions are studied and compared with that of free side chains, i.e., linear PiPrOx with a hydrophobic terminal group. In nitropropane, the graft-copolymer adopts conformation of a 13-arm star with a core of a collapsed main chain and a PiPrOx corona. Similarly, a linear PiPrOx chain protects its bulky terminal group by wrapping around it in a selective solvent. In aqueous solutions at low temperatures, graft copolymers form aggregates due to interaction of hydrophobic backbones, which contrasts to molecular solutions of the model linear PiPrOx. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) for the graft copolymer is around 20 °C. The phase separation temperatures of the copolymer solution were lower than that of the linear chain counterpart, decreasing with concentration for both polymers.

Structural Analysis of Bottlebrush Block Copolymer Micelles Using Small-Angle X-ray Scattering

We present structural analysis of spherical diblock copolymer micelles where core blocks have bottlebrush architecture. The dependence of the core radius (R_core) and the corona thickness (L_corona) on the core block length (N_core) is investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and discussed in terms of the stiffness of a core-forming polymer posed by its long fluoroalkyl side chains. The conformation of the core block is strongly stretched, and the measured exponents α and β from power-law correlations, R_core ∼ N_core^α and L_corona ∼ N_core^β, respectively, are greater than those from any scaling predictions for block copolymer micelles with a flexible, linear core-block. Such deviations are attributed to the appreciable chain stiffness of the bottlebrush core block, and a simple model is suggested to understand how the core block stiffness influences both the dimensions of core and corona.

Kinetically-arrested single-polymer nanostructures from amphiphilic mikto-grafted bottlebrushes in solution: a simulation study

Solution self-assembly of molecular bottlebrushes offers a rich platform to create complex functional organic nanostructures. Recently, it has become evident that kinetics, not just thermodynamics, plays an important role in defining the self-assembled structures that can be formed. In this work, we present results from extensive molecular dynamics simulations that explore the self-assembly behavior of mikto-grafted bottlebrushes when the solvent quality for one of the side blocks is changed by a rapid quench. We have performed a systematic study of the effect of different structural parameters and the degree of incompatibility between side chains on the final self-assembled nanostructures in the low concentration limit. We found that kinetically-trapped complex nanostructures are prevalent as the number of macromonomers increases. We performed a quantitative analysis of the self-assembled morphologies by computing the radius of gyration tensor and relative shape anisotropy as the different relevant parameters were varied. Our results are summarized in terms of non-equilibrium morphology diagrams.

Self-assembly of amphiphilic polymers of varying architectures near attractive surfaces

We use coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the assembly of A-B amphiphilic polymers near/on surfaces as a function of polymer architecture and surface attraction to the solvophobic B-block in the polymer. We study four polymer architectures: linear, bottlebrush with a backbone that is longer than each of the side chains, bottlebrush where the solvophobic backbone is similar in length to each of the side chains, and 'star-like' architectures where the backbone is significantly shorter than the side chain lengths. For each architecture and surface-B attraction, we quantify the assembled aggregate structure (i.e., aggregation number, domain shapes and sizes) and the chain conformations (i.e., components of the chain radius of gyration) on and away from the surface. For all the architectures and surface-B attraction strengths, the assembled structure away from the surface is similar to the assembly observed in bulk systems without surfaces. Near/on the surface, the assembled B-blocks form domains whose shapes and sizes are dependent on the surface-B attraction strength and the ability of the B-block in the polymer architecture to change conformations and pack on the surface. Domain sizes formed from linear and 'star-like' polymer architectures show the highest sensitivity to surface-B-block attraction strength, transitioning from hemispherical to disordered domains with increasing attraction strength. In contrast, bottlebrushes with long backbones and short side chains transition from hemispherical to striped to continuous domains with increasing surface-B attraction strength. Bottlebrushes with similar solvophobic backbone and side chain lengths form hemispherical domains that do not change significantly with the surface-B-block attraction strength. These computational results can guide experimentalists in their choices of surface chemistry and polymer architecture to achieve desired assembled domain shapes and sizes on the surface.