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The Next Generation in Polymer Research
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The Next Generation in Polymer Research (Closed)

A topical collection in Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This collection belongs to the section "Innovation of Polymer Science and Technology".

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Editors

Prof. Dr. Alexander Böker

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Collection Editor
Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Polymerforschung, Lehrstuhl für Polymermaterialien und Polymertechnologie, Universität Potsdam, Geiselbergstraße 69, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
Interests: self-assembly of block copolymers and nanoparticles; multi-functional patchy particles; Pickering-Emulsions; protein-polymer conjugates; integration of biological functions into polymeric materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Hyeonseok Yoon

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
1. School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
2. Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
Interests: conducting polymers; nanoparticles; composites; sensors; electrochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Martin Kröger

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Polymer Physics, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Leopold-Ruzicka-Weg 4, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
Interests: polymer physics; computational physics; applied mathematics; stochastic differential equations; coarse-graining; biophysics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the year 2020, we celebrate 100 years of Polymer research. This is the right time to review past achievements of polymer science as well as to look far into the future towards what is to come next. At the turn of the first polymer science century, we learn about how the future directions may be and from the creative outlook on what is next, we will be able to highlight the next generation of topics and people in polymer research. This is exactly the aim of this topical collection. We invite reviews of past achievements in polymer science and encourage emerging leaders and talents in the field to share their view on what is next in polymer science. Join us for this exciting endeavor and submit your contribution before 30 June 2020.

Prof. Dr. Alexander Böker
Prof. Dr. Hyeonseok Yoon
Prof. Dr. Martin Kröger
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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2020

15 pages, 2372 KiB  
Article
Interaction of Proteins with a Planar Poly(acrylic acid) Brush: Analysis by Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring (QCM-D)
by Jacek Walkowiak, Michael Gradzielski, Stefan Zauscher and Matthias Ballauff
Polymers 2021, 13(1), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13010122 - 30 Dec 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3650
Abstract
We describe the preparation of a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brush, polymerized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) and subsequent acid hydrolysis, on the flat gold surfaces of quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) crystals. The PAA brushes were characterized [...] Read more.
We describe the preparation of a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brush, polymerized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) and subsequent acid hydrolysis, on the flat gold surfaces of quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) crystals. The PAA brushes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ellipsometry and water contact angle analysis. The interaction of the PAA brushes with human serum albumin (HSA) was studied for a range of ionic strengths and pH conditions by quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). The quantitative analysis showed a strong adsorption of protein molecules onto the PAA brush. By increasing the ionic strength, we were able to release a fraction of the initially bound HSA molecules. This finding highlights the importance of counterions in the polyelectrolyte-mediated protein adsorption/desorption. A comparison with recent calorimetric studies related to the binding of HSA to polyelectrolytes allowed us to fully analyze the QCM data based on the results of the thermodynamic analysis of the binding process. Full article
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44 pages, 9288 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Application of Polymer Compartments for Catalysis
by Tai-Lam Nghiem, Deniz Coban, Stefanie Tjaberings and André H. Gröschel
Polymers 2020, 12(10), 2190; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12102190 - 24 Sep 2020
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 8676
Abstract
Catalysis is one of the most important processes in nature, science, and technology, that enables the energy efficient synthesis of essential organic compounds, pharmaceutically active substances, and molecular energy sources. In nature, catalytic reactions typically occur in aqueous environments involving multiple catalytic sites. [...] Read more.
Catalysis is one of the most important processes in nature, science, and technology, that enables the energy efficient synthesis of essential organic compounds, pharmaceutically active substances, and molecular energy sources. In nature, catalytic reactions typically occur in aqueous environments involving multiple catalytic sites. To prevent the deactivation of catalysts in water or avoid unwanted cross-reactions, catalysts are often site-isolated in nanopockets or separately stored in compartments. These concepts have inspired the design of a range of synthetic nanoreactors that allow otherwise unfeasible catalytic reactions in aqueous environments. Since the field of nanoreactors is evolving rapidly, we here summarize—from a personal perspective—prominent and recent examples for polymer nanoreactors with emphasis on their synthesis and their ability to catalyze reactions in dispersion. Examples comprise the incorporation of catalytic sites into hydrophobic nanodomains of single chain polymer nanoparticles, molecular polymer nanoparticles, and block copolymer micelles and vesicles. We focus on catalytic reactions mediated by transition metal and organocatalysts, and the separate storage of multiple catalysts for one-pot cascade reactions. Efforts devoted to the field of nanoreactors are relevant for catalytic chemistry and nanotechnology, as well as the synthesis of pharmaceutical and natural compounds. Optimized nanoreactors will aid in the development of more potent catalytic systems for green and fast reaction sequences contributing to sustainable chemistry by reducing waste of solvents, reagents, and energy. Full article
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35 pages, 7748 KiB  
Review
On Complex Coacervate Core Micelles: Structure-Function Perspectives
by Jose Rodrigo Magana, Christian C. M. Sproncken and Ilja K. Voets
Polymers 2020, 12(9), 1953; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12091953 - 28 Aug 2020
Cited by 46 | Viewed by 7925
Abstract
The co-assembly of ionic-neutral block copolymers with oppositely charged species produces nanometric colloidal complexes, known, among other names, as complex coacervates core micelles (C3Ms). C3Ms are of widespread interest in nanomedicine for controlled delivery and release, whilst research activity into other application areas, [...] Read more.
The co-assembly of ionic-neutral block copolymers with oppositely charged species produces nanometric colloidal complexes, known, among other names, as complex coacervates core micelles (C3Ms). C3Ms are of widespread interest in nanomedicine for controlled delivery and release, whilst research activity into other application areas, such as gelation, catalysis, nanoparticle synthesis, and sensing, is increasing. In this review, we discuss recent studies on the functional roles that C3Ms can fulfil in these and other fields, focusing on emerging structure–function relations and remaining knowledge gaps. Full article
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Graphical abstract

18 pages, 5197 KiB  
Review
Application of Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Scattering and Spectroscopy to Soft Matter
by Atsushi Takahara, Yuji Higaki, Tomoyasu Hirai and Ryohei Ishige
Polymers 2020, 12(7), 1624; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12071624 - 21 Jul 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6550
Abstract
Light produced by synchrotron radiation (SR) is much brighter than that produced by conventional laboratory X-ray sources. The photon energy of SR X-ray ranges from soft and tender X-rays to hard X-rays. Moreover, X-rays become element sensitive with decreasing photon energy. By using [...] Read more.
Light produced by synchrotron radiation (SR) is much brighter than that produced by conventional laboratory X-ray sources. The photon energy of SR X-ray ranges from soft and tender X-rays to hard X-rays. Moreover, X-rays become element sensitive with decreasing photon energy. By using a wide energy range and high-quality light of SR, different scattering and spectroscopic methods were applied to various soft matters. We present five of our recent studies performed using specific light properties of a synchrotron facility, which are as follows: (1) In situ USAXS study to understand the deformation behavior of colloidal crystals during uniaxial stretching; (2) structure characterization of semiconducting polymer thin films along the film thickness direction by grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering using tender X-rays; (3) X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis of the formation mechanism of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT); (4) soft X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopic analysis of water structure in polyelectrolyte brushes; and (5) X-ray photon correlation spectroscopic analysis of the diffusion behavior of polystyrene-grafted nanoparticles dispersed in a polystyrene matrix. Full article
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28 pages, 4581 KiB  
Review
Mixed Polymer Brushes for “Smart” Surfaces
by Mingxiao Li and Christian W. Pester
Polymers 2020, 12(7), 1553; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12071553 - 13 Jul 2020
Cited by 56 | Viewed by 6956
Abstract
Mixed polymer brushes (MPBs) are composed of two or more disparate polymers covalently tethered to a substrate. The resulting phase segregated morphologies have been extensively studied as responsive “smart” materials, as they can be reversible tuned and switched by external stimuli. Both computational [...] Read more.
Mixed polymer brushes (MPBs) are composed of two or more disparate polymers covalently tethered to a substrate. The resulting phase segregated morphologies have been extensively studied as responsive “smart” materials, as they can be reversible tuned and switched by external stimuli. Both computational and experimental work has attempted to establish an understanding of the resulting nanostructures that vary as a function of many factors. This contribution highlights state-of-the-art MPBs studies, covering synthetic approaches, phase behavior, responsiveness to external stimuli as well as novel applications of MPBs. Current limitations are recognized and possible directions for future studies are identified. Full article
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Graphical abstract

16 pages, 4247 KiB  
Review
A Global View on Block Copolymers
by Massimo Lazzari and Mercedes Torneiro
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 869; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12040869 - 10 Apr 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5299
Abstract
In this systematic review, a total of 45,143 publications on block copolymers, issued between 1952 and 2019, are analyzed in terms of number, source, language, institution, country, keywords, and block copolymer type, to find out their evolution and predict research trends. The number [...] Read more.
In this systematic review, a total of 45,143 publications on block copolymers, issued between 1952 and 2019, are analyzed in terms of number, source, language, institution, country, keywords, and block copolymer type, to find out their evolution and predict research trends. The number of publications devoted to block copolymers has been growing for over six decades, maintaining a consistent level throughout the last few years. In their majority, documents came out of the United States, although more recently, Chinese institutions are those displaying the largest production. Keywords analysis indicated that one-third of the publications concerned synthesis, around 20% explored self-assembly and morphological aspects, and another 20% referred to block copolymer applications in solution. In particular, 2019 confirmed the expansion of studies related to drug delivery, and in minor extent, to a deeper view of self-assembling. Styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer was the most popular in studies covering both basic and industrially oriented aspects. Other highly investigated copolymers are PEO-b–PPO-b–PEO (Pluronic©) and amphiphilic block copolymers based on polycaprolactone or poly(lactic acid), which owed their success to their potential as delivery vehicles. Future trending topics will concern nanomedicine challenges and technology-related applications, with a special attention toward the orientation and ordering of mesophase-separated morphologies. Full article
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