title: Hyperbranched PEG by random copolymerization of ethylene oxide and glycidol.
abstract: The synthesis of hyperbranched poly(ethylene glycol) (hbPEG) in one step was realized by random copolymerization of ethylene oxide and glycidol, leading to a biocompatible, amorphous material with multiple hydroxyl functionalities. A series of copolymers with moderate polydispersity ($\overline {M} _{{\rm w}} /\overline {M} _{{\rm n}} $ < 1.8) was obtained with varying glycidol content (3-40 mol-%) and molecular weights up to 49 800 g mol(-1) . The randomly branched structure of the copolymers was confirmed by (1) H and (13) C NMR spectroscopy and thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry). MTS assay demonstrated low cell toxicity of the hyperbranched PEG, comparable to the highly established linear PEG.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10-14, D-55099 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilms
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schömer
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wurm
authors.forename: M Iris
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hermanns
authors.forename: C James
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frey