Polymer Brushes: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer brushes have emerged as a focal point in polymer research, addressing the demand for facile and versatile surface modifications. The advent of controlled radical polymerization from surfaces, coupled with advanced theoretical models, simulations, and characterization tools, has empowered researchers to precisely manipulate brush density and thickness, thereby exerting unprecedented control over surface properties and functionality. Elevated brush density induces a stretched brush conformation, impacting molecular interactions with the brush surface. The resulting residual stress imparts distinctive properties to polymer brushes compared to equivalent layers of coated polymer chains. Owing to these remarkable characteristics, interest in polymer brushes has developed due to their significance for applications in various fields, such as tribology, controlled drug/gene delivery, tissue engineering, imaging, and the design of stimuli-responsive materials.

Prof. Dr. Costas H. Vlahos
Guest Editor

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