Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

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...

Polymers

Polymers

Polymers

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the...

Polymers

Polymers

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Visible-Light HAT Photocatalysis for Switchable Polyethylene Degradation and C-H Functionalization.

ACS macro letters·2026

Same author

HSP47 is a potential dual cell target and prognostic factor in pancreatic cancer.

Oncogene·2026

Same author

3D-Printable Nanoporous Thermosets via Disulfide-Based Polymerization-Induced Microphase Separation.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026

Same author

Conjugation of Antibiotics to Peptidomimetics Enhances Antimicrobial Spectrum of Activity.

Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Additive Manufacturing of Ordered Polymer Nanostructures.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026

Same author

βIII-tubulin can act as a brake on extrinsic apoptosis in pancreatic cancer.

Cell death & disease·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Particles without a Box: Brush-first Synthesis of Photodegradable PEG Star Polymers under Ambient Conditions

Particles without a Box: Brush-first Synthesis of Photodegradable PEG Star Polymers under Ambient Conditions

Published on: October 10, 2013

Star Polymers.

Jing M Ren¹, Thomas G McKenzie¹, Qiang Fu¹

¹Polymer Science Group, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne , Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.

Chemical Reviews

|June 15, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Star polymers, complex macromolecules with unique architectures, offer advanced properties for nanotechnology and life sciences. This review details their synthesis, characterization, and applications, promoting future research and commercialization.

More Related Videos

Using Polystyrene-block-polyacrylic acid-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization

Using Polystyrene-block-polyacrylic acid-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization

Published on: July 9, 2015

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications

Published on: June 2, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Particles without a Box: Brush-first Synthesis of Photodegradable PEG Star Polymers under Ambient Conditions

Particles without a Box: Brush-first Synthesis of Photodegradable PEG Star Polymers under Ambient Conditions

Published on: October 10, 2013

Using Polystyrene-block-polyacrylic acid-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization

Using Polystyrene-block-polyacrylic acid-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization

Published on: July 9, 2015

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications

Published on: June 2, 2017

Area of Science:

Polymer Chemistry
Materials Science
Nanotechnology

Background:

Controlled/living polymerization and coupling chemistries enable complex polymer synthesis.
Star polymers possess unique architectures with multiple chain ends, leading to distinct properties.
These properties make star polymers valuable nanomaterials for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To comprehensively review synthetic strategies for star polymers.
To highlight recent advancements in star macromolecule synthesis and characterization.
To outline emerging applications and commercial uses of star-shaped polymers.

Main Methods:

Review of synthetic methodologies for controlled polymer architecture.
Analysis of advanced characterization techniques for star macromolecules.
Survey of current and potential applications in life sciences and nanotechnologies.

Main Results:

Advanced polymerization techniques facilitate the creation of complex star polymer architectures.
Star polymers exhibit unique properties not found in linear polymers.
Numerous applications in life sciences and nanotechnologies are being explored and commercialized.

Conclusions:

Star polymers are a unique class of nanomaterials with significant technological importance.
Continued research in synthesis and characterization will drive innovation.
Star polymers are poised to play a crucial role in future materials science and nanotechnology.