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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching01:17

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching

The skeletal structure of polymers synthesized via radical polymerization is always branched. For example, the polymerization of ethylene by radical polymerization results in a low-density grade of polyethylene with a heavily branched skeletal structure. Here, the radical site abstracts hydrogen from the growing chain, and the radical site shifts from the end (a primary carbon center) to anywhere within the growing chain (a secondary carbon center). Consequently, the part of the chain from the...
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The polymerization of G-actin monomers into filamentous F-actin is a multi-step process. Once the F-actins are formed, they can bundle together in different arrangements to form higher-order networks and regulate cellular functions. Common examples include the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia at the cell's leading edge by actin reorganization in a migrating cell. The microvilli on the brush border epithelial cells are also formed through the F-actin network.
The high-order actin networks...
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

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The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the generated carbocation,...
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Preparation and Friction Force Microscopy Measurements of Immiscible, Opposing Polymer Brushes
13:57

Preparation and Friction Force Microscopy Measurements of Immiscible, Opposing Polymer Brushes

Published on: December 24, 2014

Helix formation in the polymer brush.

Mark Kastantin1, Matthew Tirrell

  • 1Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309.

Macromolecules
|July 26, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study explores helix-coil polymer brushes, finding that stretching stabilizes helix formation. These helicogenic brushes are less resistant to compression than random-coil brushes, with implications for biomaterials.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer physics
  • Materials science
  • Biomaterials engineering

Background:

  • Polymer brushes are chains grafted to a surface.
  • Helix-coil transitions are conformational changes in polymers.
  • Understanding polymer brush behavior is crucial for developing advanced materials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the physics of polymer brushes undergoing helix-coil transitions.
  • To model the behavior of helicogenic polymer brushes under varying tethering densities.
  • To explore the potential applications of these brushes in biomaterials.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing a self-consistent field approximation for stretched polymer chains.
  • Employing a lattice model for interaction energy in helix-coil mixtures.
  • Analyzing monomer density and helical content under different stretching conditions.

Main Results:

  • Crowding-induced stretching stabilizes helix formation at moderate densities.
  • High tethering density unravels helices, creating distinct layers.
  • Helicogenic brushes show reduced resistance to compression compared to random-coil brushes at low-to-moderate densities.
  • Stretch-induced helix unwinding at high densities resists further compression.

Conclusions:

  • Helicogenic polymer brushes exhibit unique compression behaviors dependent on tethering density.
  • The model provides insights into the design of biomaterials using helix-forming polymers.
  • Applications include inducing shape changes and stabilizing helical peptide sequences in biomaterials.