Issue 3, 2011

Aliphatic polyester polymer stars: synthesis, properties and applications in biomedicine and nanotechnology

Abstract

A critical review: the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters provides access to an array of biodegradable, bioassimilable and renewable polymeric materials. Building these aliphatic polyester polymers into larger macromolecular frameworks provides further control over polymer characteristics and opens up unique applications. Polymer stars, where multiple arms radiate from a single core molecule, have found particular utility in the areas of drug delivery and nanotechnology. A challenge in this field is in understanding the impact of altering synthetic variables on polymer properties. We review the synthesis and characterization of aliphatic polyester polymer stars, focusing on polymers originating from lactide, ε-caprolactone, glycolide, β-butyrolactone and trimethylene carbonate monomers and their copolymers including coverage of polyester miktoarm star copolymers. These macromolecular materials are further categorized by core molecules, catalysts employed, self-assembly and degradation properties and the resulting fields of application (262 references).

Graphical abstract: Aliphatic polyester polymer stars: synthesis, properties and applications in biomedicine and nanotechnology

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
27 Aug 2010
First published
16 Nov 2010

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2011,40, 1761-1776

Aliphatic polyester polymer stars: synthesis, properties and applications in biomedicine and nanotechnology

D. J. A. Cameron and M. P. Shaver, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2011, 40, 1761 DOI: 10.1039/C0CS00091D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements