Star-Shaped Polydimethylsiloxanes with Organocyclotetrasilsesquioxane Branching-Out Centers: Synthesis and Properties.

New non-crystallizable low-dispersity star-shaped polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) containing stereoregular cis-tetra(organo)(dimethylsiloxy)cyclotetrasiloxanes containing methyl-, tolyl- and phenyl-substituents at silicon atoms and the mixture of four stereoisomers of tetra[phenyl(dimethylsiloxy)]cyclotetrasiloxane as the cores were synthesized. Their thermal and viscous properties were studied. All synthesized compounds were characterized by a complex of physicochemical analysis methods: nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), FT-IR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), viscometry in solution, rheometry, and Langmuir trough study.

Hybrid Polycarbosilane-Siloxane Dendrimers: Synthesis and Properties.

A series of carbosilane dendrimers of the 4th, 6th, and 7th generations with a terminal trimethylsilylsiloxane layer was synthesized. Theoretical models of these dendrimers were developed, and equilibrium dendrimer conformations obtained via molecular dynamics simulations were in a good agreement with experimental small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data demonstrating molecule monodispersity and an almost spherical shape. It was confirmed that the glass transition temperature is independent of the dendrimer generation, but is greatly affected by the chemical nature of the dendrimer terminal groups. A sharp increase in the zero-shear viscosity of dendrimer melts was found between the 5th and the 7th dendrimer generations, which was qualitatively identical to that previously reported for polycarbosilane dendrimers with butyl terminal groups. The viscoelastic properties of high-generation dendrimers seem to follow some general trends with an increase in the generation number, which are determined by the regular branching structure of dendrimers.

Biodegradable poly(l-lactide)/calcium phosphate composites with improved properties for orthopedics: Effect of filler and polymer crystallinity.

Biodegradable poly(l-lactide)/calcium phosphate composites are promising materials for fabrication of bone fixation implants with improved properties. Multistage compounding was proposed as an efficient method for the preparation of biodegradable poly(l-lactide)/calcium phosphate composites with submicron filler dispersion and mechanical characteristics similar to native bone. The improvement of the characteristics is caused both by the filler itself and by the increase of polymer crystallinity due to the nucleation effect. The technique allows to fabricate biodegradable composites with controlled properties by varying concentration and type of the filler as well as degree of PLLA matrix crystallinity. Animal studies revealed that all the composites were biocompatible and non-toxic.

Self-organizing cyclolinear organosilicon polymers in bulk and on the surface of water.

Cyclolinear organocarbosiloxane polymers with varying content and location of (CH2)n groups in the monomer unit were synthesized by reactions of heterofunctional polycondensation and polyaddition of difunctional organocyclosiloxanes and organocyclocarbosiloxanes. Their bulk properties were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray structural analysis. It was shown that on introduction of CH2 groups into the methylcyclohexasiloxane unit, the polymer retains the ability to self-organize with formation of a mesomorphic state in a wide temperature range, while on introduction of (CH2)2 fragments in a cyclotetrasiloxane unit or in a bridge connecting two methylcyclotetra(hexa)siloxane units it does not. Comparison of the X-ray data of dihydroxy derivatives of decamethylcyclohexasiloxane and decamethyl-5-carbocyclohexasiloxane with packing of cyclolinear organosilicon polymers in bulk shows that the polymer inherits the layered type of crystalline structure typical for monomers. Langmuir films of cyclolinear polymethylcarbosiloxanes with different design of monomer units were studied as well. It was revealed that all polymers form monomolecular films at the air/water interface, excluding those having longer hydrophobic fragment than hydrophilic ones. The ability to form multilayers depends on the surroundings of Si atom in the bridge between the cycles.