Macromolecular metamorphosis via stimulus-induced transformations of polymer architecture
Open accessAbstract
Macromolecular architecture plays a pivotal role in determining the properties of polymers. When designing polymers for specific applications, it is not only the size of a macromolecule that must be considered, but also its shape. In most cases, the topology of a polymer is a static feature that is inalterable once synthesized. Using reversible-covalent chemistry to prompt the disconnection of chemical bonds and the formation of new linkages in situ, we report polymers that undergo dramatic topological transformations via a process we term macromolecular metamorphosis. Utilizing this technique, a linear amphiphilic block copolymer or hyperbranched polymer undergoes 'metamorphosis' into comb, star and hydrophobic block copolymer architectures. This approach was extended to include a macroscopic gel which transitioned from a densely and covalently crosslinked network to one with larger distances between the covalent crosslinks when heated. These architectural transformations present an entirely new approach to 'smart' materials.
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- Authors
- Sun, H., Kabb, C. P., Dai, Y., Hill, M. R., Ghiviriga, I., Bapat, A. P., & Sumerlin, B. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- Sumerlin, Brent S.
- Venue
- Nature Chemistry
- Published
- 2017-02-20
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 817-823
- ISSN
- 1755-4330 (ISSN-L)
- 1755-4349
- OpenAlex
- W2589847527
- Cited by
- 220
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 43 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 10
- FWCI
- 12.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- figshare.com
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature Chemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer composites and self-healing
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Supramolecular Chemistry and Complexes
- Keywords
- polymer topology, dynamic covalent chemistry, reversible covalent bonds, amphiphilic block copolymers, hyperbranched polymers, comb polymers, star polymers, thermosensitive hydrogel, stimuli-responsive materials, topology change
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