Multiarm Star Polymers. Fundamental Aspects. A Review

The review is devoted to the analysis of the currently available data in the field of the molecular organization of multiarm stars, macromolecules-particles characterized by the dualism of macromolecular and colloidal properties. Until now, the question of the predominance of polymeric or colloidal behavior for such objects remains open. The distinctive properties of multiarm stars—very low intrinsic viscosity and the formation of monomolecular micelles—are determined by the peculiarities of their molecular organization. The appearance of dendrimers as the initial branching centers made it possible to create a representative number of objects, and this allowed one to study the property–structure relationship for this group of objects at a new qualitative level. The results obtained are important for studying the factors that determine the “anomalous” behavior of macromolecules-particles, such as dendrimers, nanogels, and dense molecular brushes, and provide an important experimental basis for theoretical understanding of the behavior of these objects as a function of their structure.