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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers01:24

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

Copolymers are the products obtained from the polymerization of multiple monomer species. So, in a polymer chain itself, there can be multiple repeating units that come from different monomers. The process of synthesizing a polymer from different monomer species is called copolymerization. When two monomers are involved, the polymer is known as a bipolymer. Polymers with three and four monomers are termed terpolymers and quaterpolymers, respectively. Figure 1 depicts the copolymerization of...
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...
Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...

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Fabricating Reactive Surfaces with Brush-like and Crosslinked Films of Azlactone-Functionalized Block Co-Polymers
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Published on: June 30, 2018

Patterning of hyperbranched polymer films.

R M Crooks1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77842-3012, USA. crooks@tamu.edu

Chemphyschem : a European Journal of Chemical Physics and Physical Chemistry
|May 21, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed new methods for patterning functional hyperbranched poly(acrylic acid) thin polymer films (HPFs). These patterned films offer versatile functionalization for diverse applications, including cell segregation.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Surface Chemistry

Background:

  • Hyperbranched polymers (HPFs) are highly branched macromolecules with a high density of functional groups.
  • Existing methods for HPF fabrication lack precise spatial control.
  • Functionalization of HPFs can impart unique optical, electrochemical, biological, and mechanical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe novel methods for patterning functional hyperbranched poly(acrylic acid) thin polymer films.
  • To enable the creation of HPFs with micron-scale resolution.
  • To explore the potential of patterned HPFs in applications such as cell culture and biosensing.

Main Methods:

  • Iterative three-step process: surface activation, grafting of amine-terminated poly(tert-butyl acrylate), and hydrolysis.
  • Template-based patterning using self-assembled monolayers via microcontact printing.
  • Photolithographic patterning utilizing photoacids for selective hydrolysis.

Main Results:

  • Successful fabrication of poly(acrylic acid) HPFs with high density of acid groups.
  • Achieved micron-scale patterning of HPFs using both template-based and photolithographic methods.
  • Demonstrated biocompatibility by grafting poly(ethylene glycol) for spatial cell segregation.
  • Introduced patternable HPFs based on dendrimers and anhydride copolymers.

Conclusions:

  • The developed methods allow for precise patterning of functional hyperbranched polymer films.
  • Patterned HPFs offer a versatile platform for creating functional surfaces with tailored properties.
  • These materials hold significant potential for applications in advanced materials, cell biology, and microfluidics.