Recent Advances in Structural Modifications of Hyperbranched Polymers and Their Applications

Abstract

Hyperbranched polymers (HPs) are a subclass of dendritic polymers, having globular and highly branched structure, containing a number of functional groups emerging from a core. The core contains more than two functional sites where the growing branches are connected, resulting in the formation of a 3D macromolecule comprising a large number of peripheral groups. Their versatile properties and facile structural modifications have attracted considerable attention of researchers. HPs have been used in various applications such as coatings, drug delivery, nanotechnology, additives, sensors, solar cells, an so forth. Thus, this review emphasizes recent structural modifications of HPs that result in enhancement of existing or newly emerging properties. In addition, these modifications have broadened the use of HPs in various advanced technologies such as biological applications, storage devices, energy convertors, catalysis, and so forth, which have not been covered in earlier reviews. Furthermore, this article discusses the limitations associated with their fabrication and application in various fields.

Application of Glycerol in the Synthesis of Hyperbranched and Highly Branched Polyethers: Characterization, Morphology and Mechanism Proposal

“…3. However, such units may be favoured over others depending on the polymer synthesis method 19,20 . Propylene Carbonate is classified as AB 1 -type monomer, since it has only one OH active site to polymerize.…”

Synthesis and functionalization of hyperbranched polymers for targeted drug delivery

“…Furthermore, the high density of functional groups at the periphery of HBPs can be exploited to introduce functionalities on HBPs. [39] For biomedical applications, effective contrast agent probes for magnetic resonance imaging or targeting groups to promote the specific accumulation of drug carriers at the target site also known as targeted drug delivery have been considered. In this review, we propose to provide a comprehensive overview of the different types of targeting ligands used for targeted drug delivery and the strategies used to afford these HBP-based nanocarriers.…”

Rapid Hyperbranched Polythioether Synthesis Through Thiol‐Michael Addition Reaction

“…HB polymers have been used in various fields of technologies such as biological applications (therapeutic, protein delivery, antimicrobial, etc. ), coatings, catalysis, nanotechnology, additives, sensors (chemical and bio), energy storage applications (thermal energy storage, rechargeable batteries, and solar cells) and electroluminescence applications …”

“…), coatings, catalysis, nanotechnology, additives, sensors (chemical and bio), energy storage applications (thermal energy storage, rechargeable batteries, and solar cells) and electroluminescence applications. 9,24 Recently, our group focused on the use of highly basic and as well as a nucleophilic catalyst, 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) in the extremely rapid synthesis of polythioethers and the postfunctionalization of unsaturated polyester backbones. [25][26][27] More recently, we showed that dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMADC) and various dithiols could be polymerized in the presence of TBD to give a series of linear polythioethers.…”