Bottlebrush Elastomers with Crystallizable Side Chains: Monolayer-like Structure of Backbones Segregated in Intercrystalline Regions.

ABSTRACT: Bottlebrush (BB) elastomers with water-soluble side chains and tissue-mimetic mechanical properties are promising for biomedical applications like tissue implants and drug depots. This work investigates the microstructure and phase transitions of BB elastomers with crystallizable polyethylene oxide (PEO) side chains by real-time synchrotron X-ray scattering. In the melt, the elastomers exhibit the characteristic BB peak corresponding to the backbone-to-backbone correlation. This peak is a distinct feature of BB systems and is observable in small- or medium-angle X-ray scattering curves. In the systems studied, the position of the BB peak ranges from 3.6 to 4.8 nm in BB elastomers. This variation is associated with the degree of polymerization of the polyethylene oxide (PEO) side chains, wh

SUBMITTER: Nikitina EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10819367 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature