Recent advances on synthesis and biomaterials applications of hyperbranched polymers.

Hyperbranched polymers represent an intriguing class of shape-persistent soft nanomaterials that could be easily produced in one-pot reaction to obtain highly branched arborescent structures. Although traditional synthesis of hyperbranched polymers suffers from the poorly defined structures and broad molecular weight distribution, recent progress on synthesis methods allows the production of structurally defined polymers in tunable molecular weights, composition and degree of branching. This review summarizes the recent advance on synthesis of hyperbranched polymers and their applications as biomaterials in tissue engineering scaffolds, diagnostic probe carriers and drug delivery fields. This article is categorized under: Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology.