Cited by 220Advanced Polymer Synthesis and CharacterizationPolymer composites and self-healingSupramolecular Chemistry and Complexes

Macromolecular metamorphosis via stimulus-induced transformations of polymer architecture

Open access
Sun, Hao, Kabb, Christopher P., Dai, Yuqiong, Hill, Megan R., Ghiviriga, Ion, Bapat, Abhijeet P., Sumerlin, Brent S.·2017·Nature Chemistry

Abstract

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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Crossref · 10.1038/nchem.2730

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33 of 33 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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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
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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