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Related Concept Videos

Polymers02:34

Polymers

42.6K
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...
42.6K
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

4.2K
Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
4.2K
Protein Complex Assembly02:41

Protein Complex Assembly

17.0K
Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types.  Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
17.0K
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

4.6K
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...
4.6K
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

3.0K
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...
3.0K
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.7K
The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...
2.7K

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Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
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Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

Published on: August 2, 2012

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Supramolecular structures and self-association processes in polymer systems.

M Hrubý1, S K Filippov, P Štěpánek

  • 1Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. stepan@imc.cas.cz.

Physiological Research
|October 21, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Block copolymers self-assemble in water, forming structures ideal for targeted cancer drug delivery. These supramolecular assemblies improve drug properties and enable controlled release.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Self-organization in polymers arises from balanced repulsive and attractive forces between building blocks.
  • Block copolymers form supramolecular assemblies in aqueous solutions.
  • These assemblies are crucial for advanced drug delivery systems, particularly in oncology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the fundamental principles of polymer self-organization in solution.
  • To discuss phase separation in polymer systems induced by external stimuli.
  • To explore the influence of copolymer architecture on self-assembly.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on polymer self-organization.
  • Analysis of supramolecular assembly formation in block copolymers.
  • Investigation of stimuli-responsive phase separation mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Balanced intermolecular forces drive polymer self-organization.
  • Block copolymers in aqueous media form useful supramolecular assemblies.
  • External stimuli like temperature, pH, and light trigger phase separation.

Conclusions:

  • Polymer self-organization is key to developing sophisticated drug delivery vehicles.
  • Block copolymer architecture significantly impacts self-assembly behavior.
  • Stimuli-responsive systems offer precise control over drug release for targeted therapies.