Biopolymer macromolecules Block copolymers

The molecular organization of biopolymers is often much more complex than that of polymers synthesized in a chemical laboratory. Work is underway to systematically close this gap. Recent progress in controlled radical polymerization has made it possible to synthesize increasingly complex ionic macromolecules with controlled dimensions and topology. As a result, well-defined ionic block copolymers [10], colloidal [4] and molecular [8] PE brushes, and star-like PEs [9] have become available. In addition to emerging applications, such nanostructures constitute excellent model systems. 

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