Multi-Armed polymers: Fundamentals to applications

Multi-armed polymers, often termed star polymers, are highly branched macromolecules with three-dimensional architectures. Each molecule is composed of a central core from which linear arms emanate. Star polymers have a number of chemical and physical properties (e.g. their solubility and low melting point) that make them useful for a number of biomedical applications, from drug-delivery to tissue adhesives and engineering. While solid polymers with high molecular weights (>5000 Da) are receiving significant attention in polymer science, the development of short, liquid star polymers remains relatively unexplored. I will discuss new concepts and strategies and present some applications based on the unique properties of star polymers including a novel medical Glue-gun, a polymeric formula that self-assembles in-situ after being injected to the body and a surgical sealant from liquid star copolymers.