Recent Advances in Structural Modifications of Hyperbranched Polymers and Their Applications

Hyperbranched polymers (HPs) are a subclass of dendritic polymers, having globular and highly branched structure, containing a number of functional groups emerging from a core. The core contains more than two functional sites where the growing branches are connected, resulting in the formation of a 3D macromolecule comprising a large number of peripheral groups. Their versatile properties and facile structural modifications have attracted considerable attention of researchers. HPs have been used in various applications such as coatings, drug delivery, nanotechnology, additives, sensors, solar cells, an so forth. Thus, this review emphasizes recent structural modifications of HPs that result in enhancement of existing or newly emerging properties. In addition, these modifications have broadened the use of HPs in various advanced technologies such as biological applications, storage devices, energy convertors, catalysis, and so forth, which have not been covered in earlier reviews. Furthermore, this article...