Cover Feature: Loops and Cycles at Surfaces: The Unique Properties of Topological Polymer Brushes (Chem. Eur. J. 51/2017)

Abstract

Can the performance of polymer brushes as steric stabilizers, biopassive layers and boundary lubricants be improved? The answer to this intriguing question encompasses the application of polymer grafts presenting different chain topologies, beyond chain linearity. Polymer adsorbates forming loops and cyclic macromolecules yielding cyclic brushes on flat and nanoparticle surfaces generate films with unique physicochemical properties. Benetti and co‐workers review their preparation, characterization and modeling, trying to redefine the paradigm for surface functionalization by polymer grafting. More information can be found in the Minireview by E. M. Benetti et al. on page 12433.

Bottlebrush Glycopolymers from 2-Oxazolines and Acrylamides for Targeting Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-3-Grabbing Nonintegrin and Mannose-Binding Lectin

“…due to their unique physiochemical properties and stealth behaviour, outperforming the goldstandard polyethylene glycol (PEG). [59][60][61][62][63][64][65] However, there have been only a few reports in literature, synthesizing sugar containing poly(2-oxazolines). [66][67][68] To the best of our knowledge, bottle brush glycopolymers consisting of a poly(2-oxazoline) backbone and polyacrylamide brushes have not been synthesized to date.…”

Brush Copolymers from 2-Oxazoline and Acrylic Monomers via an Inimer Approach

“…[15][16][17] Their physiochemical properties and stealth behavior were harnessed to produce lubricious and biocompatible brushes, cyclic brushes and blocky brush polymers which showed superior properties compared to the "gold standard" PEG. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24] The combination of 2-oxazolines with other controlled polymerization techniques such as RAFT [25][26][27][28][29][30] , ROP [31][32][33] and Cu-mediated RDRP [34][35][36] underpins the versatility of this monomer class. In particular, Cu(0)-mediated RDRP is gaining growing attention due to the increasing compatibility with hydrophilic, hydrophobic and even fluorophilic monomers in a variety of solvents, solvents mixtures and a low catalyst load.…”