Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

ATP and Macromolecule Synthesis01:28

ATP and Macromolecule Synthesis

5.7K
Biological macromolecules are organic compounds, predominantly composed of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are covalently bonded with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other minor elements. There are four major biological macromolecule classes: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Most macromolecules are composed of single subunits, or building blocks, called monomers. The monomers combine with each other using covalent bonds to form larger molecules known as polymers.
Conversion of...
5.7K
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

2.9K
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...
2.9K
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.4K
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...
2.4K
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

2.3K
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...
2.3K
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.6K
The radical chain-growth polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination of polymerization. The polymerization initiates when a free radical generated from the radical initiator adds to the unsaturated bond in the monomer. The unpaired electron of the free radical and one π electron in the unsaturated bond creates a σ bond between the free radical and the monomer. As a result, the other π electron in the unsaturated bond converts this...
2.6K
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.1K
The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael...
2.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Dynamic Interfacial Design in Adaptive Hybrid Materials Enables Reversible and Tunable Mechano-Optic Smart Responses.

ACS nano·2026
Same author

Solubilization of PET in binary mixtures of HFIP and DCM.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2026
Same author

Aqueous Carbon Capture Using Guanidinium-Functionalized Hollow Fiber Sorbent Contactors.

JACS Au·2026
Same author

Emergent Nanostructure and Ion Transport in Polyzwitterion/Polyanion Blends.

Macromolecules·2026
Same author

One Step Block-like Copolymers from an Upcycled Monomer Using Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization.

ACS polymers Au·2026
Same author

High-performance reversible adhesive from PET waste for underwater, structural, and pressure-sensitive applications.

Science advances·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2025

Using Polystyrene-block-polyacrylic acid-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization
09:02

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

Published on: July 9, 2015

12.3K

When does a macromolecule transition from a polymer chain to a nanoparticle?

Jacob Fischer1, Lu Han2, Tomonori Saito2

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee USA dad@utk.edu.

Nanoscale Advances
|December 12, 2022
PubMed
Summary

The transition from polymer chains to nanoparticles depends on internal crosslinking. A crosslinking density of 0.81% or higher shows particle-like behavior, indicating a gradual shift rather than an abrupt one.

More Related Videos

Formulation of Diblock Polymeric Nanoparticles through Nanoprecipitation Technique
06:47

Formulation of Diblock Polymeric Nanoparticles through Nanoprecipitation Technique

Published on: September 20, 2011

37.5K
Intra-lymph Node Injection of Biodegradable Polymer Particles
09:06

Intra-lymph Node Injection of Biodegradable Polymer Particles

Published on: January 2, 2014

14.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 17, 2025

Using Polystyrene-block-polyacrylic acid-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization
09:02

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

Published on: July 9, 2015

12.3K
Formulation of Diblock Polymeric Nanoparticles through Nanoprecipitation Technique
06:47

Formulation of Diblock Polymeric Nanoparticles through Nanoprecipitation Technique

Published on: September 20, 2011

37.5K
Intra-lymph Node Injection of Biodegradable Polymer Particles
09:06

Intra-lymph Node Injection of Biodegradable Polymer Particles

Published on: January 2, 2014

14.6K

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Nanoparticles are defined by size (1-100 nm), but macromolecules can meet this without nanoparticle properties.
  • Soft polymer nanoparticles are crucial for drug delivery, catalysis, and nanomedicine.
  • All-polymer nanocomposites utilize soft all-polymer nanoparticles formed by internal crosslinking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the transition of macromolecules from polymer chains to nanoparticles as internal crosslinking increases.
  • To understand the poorly understood relationship between crosslinking density and macromolecular morphology.
  • To identify the specific crosslinking threshold at which a macromolecule behaves as a nanoparticle.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized small angle neutron scattering (SANS) to analyze nanostructures in dilute solutions.
  • Studied polystyrene and poly(ethyl hexyl methacrylate) with varying crosslinking densities (0.1% to 10.7%).
  • Analyzed SANS data to determine structural characteristics and classify morphologies as chain-like or particle-like.

Main Results:

  • Identified a crosslinking-dependent transition between chain-like and particle-like morphologies.
  • Found that a crosslinking density of 0.81% or higher consistently exhibits particle-like behavior.
  • Observed that lower crosslinking densities (0.1%-0.4%) result in star polymer or random walk polymer chain collapse.

Conclusions:

  • The transition from a polymer chain to a nanoparticle is a gradual process, not abrupt.
  • Increasing internal crosslinks leads to the contraction of the polymer chain, eventually forming a nanoparticle.
  • A critical crosslinking density of approximately 0.81% marks the shift towards distinct nanoparticle behavior.