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Updated: Sep 1, 2025

Particles without a Box: Brush-first Synthesis of Photodegradable PEG Star Polymers under Ambient Conditions
Published on: October 10, 2013
Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol) bottlebrush networks via ring-opening metathesis
Brandon R Clarke1, Gregory N Tew1
1Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, United States.
Abstract:
Herein it is reported how the overlap concentration (C*) can be used to overcome crosslinking due to diol impurities in commercial PEG, allowing for the synthesize of bottlebrush polymers with good control over molecular weight. Additionally, PEG-based bottlebrush networks are synthesized via ROMP, attaining high conversions with minimal sol fractions (<2%). The crystallinity and mechanical properties of these networks are then further altered by solvent swelling with phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate/DCM cosolvents. The syntheses reported here highlight the potential of the bottlebrush network architecture for use in the rational design of new materials.
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