Hyperbranched PEAs

Some hyperbranched PEAs have been commercialized under the trade name of Hybrane at a very competitive cost. These PEAs were obtained from diisopropanolamine and a monomer derived from a cychc anhydride. The polycondensation was performed in bulk at relatively mild conditions in the absence of catalyst [47]. A large variety of structures with concomitant properties and industrial... 

Water-soluble hyperbranched PEAs are nowadays developed for different applications such as paper coatings, kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHIs) for the oil and gas industry, and biology and medicine devices. The last apphcations require a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) around physiological conditions, whereas high LCST values may be useful as KHIs. KeUand [50] has recently demonstrated that PEAs based on a cychc anhydride and diisopropanolamine can be effectively tuned by varying the hydrophobicity of the cyclic anhydride or by the addition of a less hydrophilic secondary amine (i.e., without hydroxyl groups). 

PEAs, some specific reviews can be taken into account [1-3], The present work is focused to the more recent developments performed with PEAs and highlights current activities on the biomedical field. The review is constituted by six sections the first and the second ones dealing with generic issnes snch as the synthetic methods applied and the derived polymer microstructures, while the third and fourth sections summarize more specific subjects such as preparation of hyperbranched and stiff polymers. The two last sections concern to PEAs prepared from renewable resources, paying special attention to polymers derived from a-amino acids, and specific applications like scaffolds with multiple functionalities, light-responsive materials, or nanocomposites. 

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