Chemical Engineering

Mega macromolecules as single molecule lubricants for hard and soft surfaces

P. Anilkumar, T. B. Lawson, et al.

Discover the breakthrough in dendritic polymer synthesis with mega hyperbranched polyglycerols (mega HPGs) that revolutionize lubrication by acting as nanometer-scale ball bearings. Conducted by a team of researchers from the University of British Columbia and Harvard Medical School, this study showcases the potential of mega HPGs in polymer design and application.

00:00

~3 min • Beginner • English

Index

Abstract

Synthetic globular polymers in the several-million-dalton range are expected to exhibit unique properties but have not been achieved. The authors report gram-scale synthesis of dendritic mega hyperbranched polyglycerols (mega HPGs) with molecular weights of 1–9 MDa via a macroinitiator-enabled ring-opening multibranching polymerization. These highly water-soluble, compact, nanometer-scale single polymer particles show low intrinsic viscosities and act as single-molecule lubricants that reduce coefficient of friction (COF) between hard and soft natural surfaces in a size-dependent manner. The exceptional hydration, globular architecture, and single-particle nature underpin their lubrication performance, opening avenues for the design and application of mega polymers.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

May 01, 2020

Authors

Parambath Anilkumar, Taylor B. Lawson, Srinivas Abbina, Janne T. A. Mäkelä, Robert C. Sabatelle, Lily E. Takeuchi, Brian D. Snyder, Mark W. Grinstaff, Jayachandran N. Kizhakkedathu

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15975-6

Related Publications

Explore these studies to deepen your understanding of the subject.

Engineering and Technology

High durability and stability of 2D nanofluidic devices for long-term single-molecule sensing

M. Thakur, N. Cai, et al.

Chemistry

Molecular cannibalism: Sacrificial materials as precursors for hollow and multidomain single crystals

M. C. D. Gregorio, M. Elsousou, et al.

Education

Satisfaction as a key antecedent for word of mouth and an essential mediator for service quality and brand trust in international education

H. Stribbell and S. Duangekanong

Engineering and Technology

Using visible light to activate antiviral and antimicrobial properties of TiO2 nanoparticles in paints and coatings: focus on new developments for frequent-touch surfaces in hospitals

M. Schutte-smith, E. Erasmus, et al.

Listen, Learn & Level Up

Over 10,000 hours of research content in 25+ fields, available in 12+ languages.

No more digging through PDFs, just hit play and absorb the world's latest research in your language, on your time.

listen to research audio papers with researchbunny