Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution01:10

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

For any given polymer, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is higher than, if not equal to, the number average molecular weight (Mn). The only situation in which the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are equal is when a polymer consists only of chains with equal molecular weight. However, this never happens in a synthetic polymer, since it is difficult to control the polymerization process up to a molecular level with accuracy to a hundred percent.
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers01:28

Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers

Synthetic polymers are classified as elastomers, fibers, or plastics based on their crystallinity. Crystallinity, the degree of long-range order in the solid state, influences the mechanical properties (stretching or contracting) of elastomers. Elastomers are flexible polymers that can expand or contract easily upon the application of an external force. They have numerous crosslinks that pull them back into their original shape when stress is removed. Silicones, for instance, are highly elastic...
Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight01:01

Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight

Unlike small molecules with definite molecular weights, polymers are a mixture of individual polymer chains of varying lengths, each with a unique molecular weight. So, the molecular weight of a polymer is expressed as an average value based on the average size of the polymer chains. The two most common forms of averages used for polymers are the number average molecular weight and weight average molecular weight.
The number average molecular weight (Mn) is the summation of the number...
Determination of Molar Masses of Polymers II01:27

Determination of Molar Masses of Polymers II

Polymer samples typically consist of macromolecular chains with a distribution of lengths, resulting in a range of molar masses rather than a single discrete value. Conventional descriptors such as the number-average molar mass and weight-average molar mass quantify this distribution but do not fully capture polymer behavior in solution..The viscosity-average molar mass provides a more realistic description of polymer behavior in solution because it accounts for the enhanced contribution of...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

EUCARDIA: A web-based platform for the CVD prediction using ML techniques in the Greek population.

Hellenic journal of cardiology : HJC = Hellenike kardiologike epitheorese·2026
Same author

Particular Water Organization in Homogeneous Water Mixtures of Amphiphilic Polystyrene-<i>block</i>-poly(methoxydiethylene glycol acrylate) Diblock Copolymer with Thermoresponsive Behavior.

The journal of physical chemistry. B·2025
Same author

Injectable cell-laden gelatin-chondroitin sulphate hydrogels for liver in vitro models.

International journal of biological macromolecules·2024
Same author

Osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells on electroactive substrates.

Heliyon·2024
Same author

Electrical stimulation: Effective cue to direct osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells?

Biomaterials advances·2022
Same author

Electroactive calcium-alginate/polycaprolactone/reduced graphene oxide nanohybrid hydrogels for skeletal muscle tissue engineering.

Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels
09:06

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

Published on: August 27, 2014

Molecular mobility in biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) networks.

R Sabater i Serra1, A Kyritsis, J L Escobar Ivirico

  • 1Centre de Biomaterials i Enginyeria Tissular, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain. rsabater@die.upv.es

The European Physical Journal. E, Soft Matter
|May 4, 2011
PubMed
Summary

This study explores poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) copolymer networks, revealing that hydrophilic units prevent PCL crystallization and enhance chain mobility. Water interactions were also analyzed.

More Related Videos

Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
09:22

Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications

Published on: August 28, 2015

Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures
13:38

Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures

Published on: April 11, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels
09:06

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

Published on: August 27, 2014

Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
09:22

Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications

Published on: August 28, 2015

Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures
13:38

Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures

Published on: April 11, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Materials Science
  • Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

  • Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) are versatile polymers with distinct properties.
  • Tailoring polymer network hydrophilicity is crucial for various applications, including drug delivery and tissue engineering.
  • Understanding the molecular interactions within copolymer networks is essential for predicting material performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural and dynamic properties of poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) copolymer networks.
  • To analyze the impact of hydrophilic poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) units on poly(ε-caprolactone) crystallization and chain mobility.
  • To examine the influence of water content on the molecular behavior and domain interactions within the copolymer networks.

Main Methods:

  • Thermally Stimulated Depolarization Currents (TSDC) for analyzing relaxation dynamics.
  • Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for investigating thermal transitions and phase behavior.
  • Swelling studies with varying water content to probe hydration effects.

Main Results:

  • Microphase separation into hydrophobic (PCL) and hydrophilic (PHEA) domains was observed.
  • Poly(ε-caprolactone) crystallization was inhibited by topological constraints from HEA units.
  • Enhanced mobility of amorphous PCL chains and a faster main relaxation process were detected.
  • Glass transition temperatures of PHEA-rich domains decreased with increasing PCL content.
  • Water molecule interactions with hydrophobic/hydrophilic domains were analyzed.

Conclusions:

  • Copolymerization of PCL and PHEA effectively modifies network properties, preventing PCL crystallization and increasing chain mobility.
  • The observed microphase separation and altered thermal transitions highlight the tunable nature of these copolymer networks.
  • Investigating water interactions provides crucial insights into the molecular structure and potential applications of these materials in aqueous environments.