Narrow Molecular Weight Distribution Research Articles

Synergy of metallic Co and oxygen vacancy sites in Co/Ce-MOF catalysts for efficiently promoting lignin derived phenols and macromolecular lignin hydrodeoxygenation

The enhanced utilization of biomass-derived chemicals for the generation of high value aromatics through an advanced catalytic strategy has captured considerable attention within the realm of eco-friendly manufacturing. This work presented four innovative three-dimensional rod-shaped mesoporous Ce-based MOF materials, which were coupled with a H-donor solvent to facilitate vanillin hydrodeoxygenation and macromolecular lignin. Under the optimized conditions (30 mg CoCe@C catalyst, 2 MPa N2 pressure, 15 mL isopropanol, 190 °C, and 5 h), the CoCe@C catalyst achieved nearly complete conversion of vanillin and demonstrated 87.8 % selectivity in the hydrogen-donor solvent. The characterization findings suggested that the synergy between metallic Co and oxygen vacancy sites enabled the effective activation of CHO group in vanillin, leading to formation of reactive product MMP. In addition, the optimal CoCe@C catalyst could also achieve macromolecular lignin hydrodeoxygenation to obtain high yield of lignin oil products with narrower molecular weight distribution. This study presented a viable approach for the concurrent utilization of lignin derivatives in the generation of high value fuels and chemicals.

Inorganic polymers as drug carriers: opportunities and challenges

Innovative methods and significant developments in designing new synthetic inorganic materials have been used to overcome limitations of current drug delivery systems. Inorganic polymers are widely used in the field of biomedicine, imaging, tissue engineering and drug delivery because of their bioactivity, biocompatibility, and stability. A few of the more well-known wholly inorganic polymers are portland cement, silicon dioxide, polyanionic glasses (including titania- and aluminosilicate glasses), poly(sulphur nitride), polycrystalline diamond, graphite, poly(sulphur nitride), and alumi¬num-silicate materials. Inorganic polymers, especially those possessing significant porosity, are good potential candi¬dates for the delivery of several drugs (anticancer, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories), providing advantages such as encapsulation, controlled delivery, and improved targeting of drugs. Choosing a suitable drug carrier with a selec¬tive targeting potential also seems to be a very promising way for improving stability as well as selectivity. Despite all the advances, developing homogeneous inorganic polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions is a multidis¬ciplinary challenge. The current keynote speech provides a review of the opportunities and challenges of using inor¬ganic polymers as drug carriers.

Efficient synthesis of high vinyl polybutadiene based on continuous flow microchannel reactor

AbstractThe traditional batch synthesis of liquid rubber faces issues such as low monomer polymerization concentration, poor uniformity of the reaction system, and inadequate heat dissipation, resulting in an unsatisfactory synthesis efficiency. This study presents a method for the rapid and efficient synthesis of high vinyl 1,2‐polybutadiene liquid rubber using butadiene as the monomer and n‐butyllithium as the initiator. By applying continuous flow microchannel reactors, the limitation of traditional synthesis method can be overcome. The addition of a modifier in the raw material promotes the formation of high vinyl structure. The preparation of liquid rubber requires the addition of a large amount of metal lithium initiator. However, for aerospace sealants, there is a requirement for low metal ion content. To address this, we employed different methods to reduce the metal ion content in the liquid rubber and increase its purity. Ultimately, we achieved the synthesis of high‐purity polybutadiene liquid rubber with 1,2‐vinyl content exceeding 88%, narrow molecular weight distribution, and tunable molecular weights. This research will provide technical guidance for the industrial application of polybutadiene synthesis in continuous flow microchannel reactors.

Extraction and Isolation of Two Polysaccharides from Chloranthus japonicus Sieb. and Evaluation of Their Anti-Gastric Cancer Activities.

Two unreported heteropolysaccharides, denoted as YCJP-1 and YCJP-2, were isolated from the herbs of Chloranthus japonicus. YCJP-1 was a heteropolysaccharide composed of glucose, galactose, arabinose, mannose, rhamnose, and a minor proportion of uronic acids, with the molecular weight mainly distributed in the 74,475-228,443 Da range. YCJP-2 was mainly composed of glucose, mannose, and galactose, with the molecular weights ranging from 848 to 5810 Da. To further evaluate the anti-gastric cancer effects of C. japonicus, the inhibitory effects of the crude polysaccharide (YCJP) and the purified polysaccharides (YCJP-1 and YCJP-2) were determined using a CCK-8 assay and colon-forming assay on MGC-803 and AGS gastric cancer cell lines. Our results showed that YCJP, YCJP-1, and YCJP-2 possess prominent inhibitory effects on the proliferation of MGC-803 and AGS cells, and the AGS cell was more sensitive to YCJP, YCJP-1, and YCJP-2. Moreover, YCJP-2 demonstrated superior anti-gastric cancer effects compared to YCJP-1. This could potentially be attributed to YCJP-2's higher glucose content and narrower molecular weight distribution.

Easy Synthetic Access to High‐Melting Sulfurated Copolymers and their Self‐Assembling Diblock Copolymers from Phenylisothiocyanate and Oxetane

AbstractAlthough sulfurated polymers promise unique properties, their controlled synthesis, particularly when it comes to complex and functional architectures, remains challenging. Here, we show that the copolymerization of oxetane and phenyl isothiocyanate selectively yields polythioimidocarbonates as a new class of sulfur containing polymers, with narrow molecular weight distributions (Mn=5–80 kg/mol with Đ≤1.2; Mn,max=124 kg/mol) and high melting points of up to 181 °C. The method tolerates different substituent patterns on both the oxetane and the isothiocyanate. Self‐nucleation experiments reveal that π‐stacking of phenyl substituents, the presence of unsubstituted polymer backbones, and the kinetically controlled linkage selectivity are key factors in maximising melting points. The increased tolerance to macro‐chain transfer agents and the controlled propagation allows the synthesis of double crystalline and amphiphilic diblock copolymers, which can be assembled into micellar‐ and worm‐like structures with amorphous cores in water. In contrast, crystallization driven self‐assembly in ethanol gives cylindrical micelles or platelets.

Easy Synthetic Access to High-Melting Sulfurated Copolymers and their Self-Assembling Diblock Copolymers from Phenylisothiocyanate and Oxetane.

Although sulfurated polymers promise unique properties, their controlled synthesis, particularly when it comes to complex and functional architectures, remains challenging. Here, we show that the copolymerization of oxetane and phenyl isothiocyanate selectively yields polythioimidocarbonates as a new class of sulfur containing polymers, with narrow molecular weight distributions (Mn=5-80 kg/mol with Đ≤1.2; Mn,max=124 kg/mol) and high melting points of up to 181 °C. The method tolerates different substituent patterns on both the oxetane and the isothiocyanate. Self-nucleation experiments reveal that π-stacking of phenyl substituents, the presence of unsubstituted polymer backbones, and the kinetically controlled linkage selectivity are key factors in maximising melting points. The increased tolerance to macro-chain transfer agents and the controlled propagation allows the synthesis of double crystalline and amphiphilic diblock copolymers, which can be assembled into micellar- and worm-like structures with amorphous cores in water. In contrast, crystallization driven self-assembly in ethanol gives cylindrical micelles or platelets.

A new radical initiation for the ring-opening polymerization of tetrahydrofuran with a radical substitution mechanism

A new radical-Lewis acid system has been discovered to achieve the ring-opening polymerization of tetrahydrofuran. Different types of reaction mechanisms were discovered for the initiation and polymerization processes. The proposed initiation mechanism was studied by MALDI-TOF and ESI-MS as a radical substitution mechanism and polymerization was a coordination-insertion mechanism. And polytetrahydrofuran with high molecular weight (Mn = 14.6 × 104 g mol−1) and narrow molecular weight distribution (PDI = 1.44) could be obtained.

Equibiaxial elongation of entangled polyisobutylene melts: Experiments and theoretical predictions

Equibiaxial elongational deformations are omnipresent in polymer processing technologies. The challenge of generating well-controlled equibiaxial elongational deformations in the laboratory has, however, severely inhibited progress on understanding the rheology of polymeric liquids and other complex fluids in this flow. More recently, a novel technique known as continuous lubricated squeezing flow has been developed that allows for rheological measurements in equibiaxial elongational deformations. In the present study, we examine the rheological behavior of two entangled polyisobutylene (PIB) melts with different molecular weight distributions in constant strain rate equibiaxial elongation flows. These new data are compared with predictions from two molecular models for entangled polymer melts inspired by the idea that entanglements dominate the relaxation dynamics. One model is the discrete slip-link model (DSM), and the other is known as the Rolie Double Poly (RDP) model. For the PIB with a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution, the predictions of both models are in good agreement with experiments and the DSM gives nearly quantitative agreement. For the broad molecular weight distribution PIB, both the DSM and RDP model predict strain hardening, which is not observed in the experiments.

Recent advances in green cationic polymerization

AbstractTraditional living/controlled cationic polymerization provides a simple synthetic route for the preparation of various polymers with set molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution, and clear structure. Nowadays, under the requirements of sustainable development, it is very important to explore the green chemical technology in depth. This review offers an overview of initiation systems, reaction media, polymerization techniques, and monomers, with the aim of summarizing environmentally friendly methods utilized in the field of cationic polymerization over the past 15 years. It covers a variety of directions from traditional initiation systems to green initiators, from corrosive solvents to environmentally friendly solvents, from drop initiation to external stimulation initiation, from petroleum fractionated monomers to bio‐based monomers. These methods and Techniques aim to develop advanced high‐quality polymer products using cationic polymerization, and achieving efficient energy savings and reducing emissions. The ongoing exploration of green‐controlled cationic polymerization holds promise for opening up new avenues and novel technology for high‐performance polyolefin materials.

Structure – property relationships of different natural rubber grades

The effects of various natural rubber (NR) grades, namely RSS 3, STR 5L, STR 10, STR 20 and STR 20CV, towards their final properties were investigated. The molecular characteristics of these NR grades were assessed by gel permeation chromatography and by determining protein contents. The highest molecular weight was found for RSS 3, while STR 20CV had the lowest molecular weight. No relationship between molecular weight and protein content was seen in this study. A higher molecular weight rubber provided greater maximum torque and torque difference, and a better resistance to degradation during processing. However, no significant difference was found among molecular weights higher than 1.25 × 106 g/mol. The final torque during processing and the Mooney viscosity of rubber increased with molecular weight due to tie chain entanglements, as later confirmed by a dynamic mechanical analyzer. Thermo-stability and stress relaxation of the various NR grades were also largely governed by their molecular weights. Stability of rubber at an elevated temperature improved with molecular weight. Also, the tensile properties and the strain-induced crystallization varied with the molecular weight. The tensile strength of various NR grades varied from 15 to 18 MPa while the elongation at break was 600%–800%. The molecular weight of NR was found to have a great effect on the processing, thermomechanical, dynamic, and mechanical properties of the vulcanizates. In addition, a narrow molecular weight distribution also affected the mechanical properties. The crystallinities of the NRs during stretching were closely related to their tensile behavior, and the alignment of crystal structures during stretching was almost parallel to the stretching direction in all NR samples. The molecular weight of NR appears to be a key factor associated with the mechanical properties and reinforcement behavior of vulcanizates.

Ca2+/CaM dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)α and CaMKIIβ hub domains adopt distinct oligomeric states and stabilities.

Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a multidomain serine/threonine kinase that plays important roles in the brain, heart, muscle tissue, and eggs/sperm. The N-terminal kinase and regulatory domain is connected by a flexible linker to the C-terminal hub domain. The hub domain drives the oligomeric organization of CaMKII, assembling the kinase domains into high local concentration. Previous structural studies have shown multiple stoichiometries of the holoenzyme as well as the hub domain alone. Here, we report a comprehensive study of the hub domain stoichiometry and stability in solution. We solved two crystal structures of the CaMKIIβ hub domain that show 14-mer (3.1 Å) and 16-mer (3.4 Å) assemblies. Both crystal structures were determined from crystals grown in the same drop, which suggests that CaMKII oligomers with different stoichiometries likely coexist. To further interrogate hub stability, we employed mass photometry and temperature denaturation studies of CaMKIIβ and CaMKIIα hubs, which highlight major differences between these highly similar domains. We created a dimeric CaMKIIβ hub unit using rational mutagenesis, which is significantly less stable than the oligomer. Both hub domains populate an intermediate during unfolding. We found that multiple CaMKIIβ hub stoichiometries are present in solution and that larger oligomers are more stable. CaMKIIα had a narrower distribution of molecular weight and was distinctly more stable than CaMKIIβ.

Well-defined non-symmetric NHC-iron(III) catalyst for photoinduced atom-transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

Photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization (photo-ATRP) has emerged as a prominent technique in contemporary polymer chemistry, offering a potent means to create precisely structured materials. Well-defined catalysts are essential for controlling the growth of polymers with reproducible results; however, most photo-ATRP catalytic systems involve mixing the metal salt with the ligand. Herein we present a well-defined iron(III) based photo-ATRP catalyst bearing bidentate NHC ligand, 3-Methyl-1-phenyl-1H-3,1-benzimidazol-3-ium iodide (Pmb). The [FeBr(Pmb)2] was successfully synthesized and fully characterized by FTIR, UV–Vis, and EPR spectroscopic studies, elemental analysis, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and computational studies. [FeBr(Pmb)2] was employed as the catalyst for photo-ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) under ultraviolet light irradiation (365 nm). The catalytic activity of [FeBr(Pmb)2] in the photo-ATRP of MMA was evaluated under different conditions using EBPA as the initiator. The polymerizations showed robust activity, yelding in polymers with controlled molecular weights and a narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD). Remarkably, this was achieved with low catalysts loading (102.6 ppm), mainly at the molar ratio [MMA]/[EBPA]/[Fe] = 200/1/0.04. Well-defined polyMMA was synthesized and temporal control over photo-ATRP was successfully demonstrated through “on/off” experiments. For example, photo-ATRP of MMA with a molar ratio of [200/1/0.04] after 12 h at T = 25 °C in bulk resulted in PMMA with a polydispersity (Ð) of 1.15 at 50 % monomer conversion.

Well-defined star (co)polypeptides via a fast, efficient, and metal-free strategy

Polypeptides, especially star polypeptides, as a unique kind of biological macromolecules have broad applications in biomedical fields such as drug release, gene delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicines due to their close structural similarity to naturally occurring peptides and proteins, biocompatibility, and amino acid functionality. However, the synthesis of star polypeptide mainly relies on the conventional primary amine-initiated ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA) and suffers from low polymerization activity and limited controllability. This study proposes a fast, efficient and metal-free strategy to access star (co)polypeptides by combining the Michael reaction between acrylates and secondary aminoalcohols with the hydrogen-bonding organocatalytic ROP of NCA. This approach enables the preparation of a library of star (co)polypeptides with predesigned molecular weights, narrow molecular weight distributions, tunable arm number, and arm compositions. Importantly, this method exhibits high activity and selectivity at room temperature, making it both practical and versatile in synthesis applications.

Synthesis of thermo-responsive polymer gels composed of star-shaped block copolymers by copper-catalyzed living radical polymerization and click reaction

ABSTRACT In recent times, there has been a significant surge in research interest surrounding thermo-responsive water-soluble polyacrylamides, primarily due to their intriguing capability to undergo significant solubility changes in water. These polymers exhibit the remarkable ability to shift from a soluble to an insoluble state in response to temperature variations. The capacity of these polymers to dynamically respond to temperature changes opens up exciting avenues for designing smart materials with tunable properties, amplifying their utility across a spectrum of scientific and technological applications. Researchers have been particularly captivated by the potential applications of thermo-responsive water-soluble polyacrylamides in diverse fields such as drug delivery, gene carriers, tissue engineering, sensors, catalysis, and chromatography separation. This study reports the construction and functionalization of polymer gels consisting of a polymer network of polyacrylamide derivatives with nano-sized structural units. Specifically, thermo-responsive polymer gels were synthesized by combining well-defined star-shaped polymers composed of polyacrylamide derivatives with a multifunctional initiator and linking method through a self-accelerating click reaction. The polymerization system employed a highly living approach, resulting in polymer chains characterized by narrow molecular weight distributions. The method’s high functionality facilitated the synthesis of a temperature-responsive block copolymer gel composed of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPA) and N-ethyl acrylamide (NEAA). The resulting polymer gel, comprising star-shaped block copolymers of NIPA and NEAA, showcases smooth volume changes with temperature jumps.

Aminophosphine Based Lewis Pair for the Controlled Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate

AbstractLewis pair polymerization (LPP) has made significant progress in recent decades as a powerful method to synthesize polymers. The matching of electronic and steric properties of Lewis base/acid plays a decisive role in the activity, controlled behavior, and initiation efficiency (I*) of the polymerization. However, exploration of aminophosphine based Lewis base for polymer synthesis has been limited. Herein, commercially available aminophosphine, namely hexamethylphosphorous triamide (HMPT) in combination with common organoaluminum for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), is presented. HMPT/iBu3Al shows controlled behavior in MMA polymerization with polymerization degree from 48 to 800, affording defined polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with molecular weight (Mn = 15.1–110.7 kg mol−1) with relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (Ð = 1.11–1.37). Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) affirmed the chain‐end fidelity of PMMA. The interaction mode between Lewis pair affects the in situ generated fraction of active species. The basicity and the cone angle of the aminophosphine determine the activity of the formed active species and I*. The successful application highlights the benefits of introducing P─N bonds into Lewis bases, thereby expanding the variety of Lewis base categories.

Relative Strength of Polycation Adsorption on Oxide Surfaces.

Polyelectrolyte adsorption onto surfaces is widely employed in water treatment and mining. However, little is known of the relative interaction strengths between surfaces and polymer. This fundamental property is assumed to be dominated by electrostatics, i.e., attractive interactions between opposite charges, which are set by the overall ionic strength ("salt concentration") of the solution, and charge densities of the surface and the polymer. A common, counterintuitive finding is a range of salt concentrations over which the amount of adsorbed polyelectrolyte increases as electrostatic interactions are tempered by the addition of salt. After an adsorption maximum, higher salt concentrations then produce the expected gradual desorption of polyelectrolyte. In this work, the salt response of the adsorption of the same narrow molecular weight distribution polycation, poly(N-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium), PM4VP, to a variety of surfaces was explored. Oxide powders for adsorption included Al2O3, SiO2, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, TiO2, ZnO, and CuO. Planar surfaces included silicon wafers, mica, calcium carbonate, and CaF2 single crystals. The PM4VP was radiolabeled with 14C so that sensitive, submonolayer amounts could be detected. The position of the peak maximum, or the lack of a peak, in response to added salt was used to rank the electrostatic component of the interaction. The importance of charge regulation, a shift in the surface pKa in response to solution species, was highlighted as a mechanism for adsorption on the "wrong" side of the isoelectric point and also as a factor contributing to the difficulty of reaching the totally desorbed state even at the highest salt concentrations.

Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of a water-soluble polysaccharide from Poria cocos

In order to investigate the structural characteristics and immunomodulatory effects of Poria cocos polysaccharides, a water-soluble homogeneous polysaccharide (PCP-2) was isolated by water extraction and alcohol precipitation and further purified by Cellulose DEAE-52 and Sephacryl S-100HR column chromatography. PCP-2 is a heteropolysaccharide composed of glucose, galactose, mannose, and fucose in a molar ratio of 42.0: 35.0: 13.9: 9.1. It exhibits a narrow molecular weight distribution at 2.35 kDa with a branching degree of 37.1 %. The main chain types of PCP-2 include 1,3-β-D-Glc and 1,6-β-D-Glc as the backbone glucans and 1,6-α-D-Gal as the backbone heterogalactan. In vitro experiments demonstrate that PCP-2 directly stimulate RAW264.7 cell proliferation and secretion of inflammatory factors such as NO and TNF-α. In cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced mice, it promotes the development of thymus and spleen immune organs, elevates the blood levels of IgG, IgA, IgM and CD3+CD4+ T cells, increases the intestinal villus height/ crypt depth ratio and improves gut barrier dysfunctions. These findings suggest that PCP-2 is a natural fungal polysaccharide with broad spectrum of immunoenhancing effects, which can significantly ameliorate the immunocompromised state.

Two‐dimensional β‐ketoenamine linked azo covalent organic frameworks as heterogeneous catalysts for photo‐induced RCMP

AbstractPhoto‐induced reversible complexation‐mediated polymerization (RCMP) is a green and economical method to prepare polymers with precise molecular weights, narrow molecular weight distributions and functionally active chain ends. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a promising heterogeneous photocatalyst for mediating RCMP due to their adjustable structure, band gap, and porosity. In this work, 1,3,5‐triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) and p‐azoaniline (Azo) were selected to construct 2D β‐ketoenamine linked Tp‐Azo‐COF as a heterogeneous photocatalyst to trigger RCMP under white light irradiation. A series of polymers with controllable molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution were successfully prepared by using Tp‐Azo‐COF as photocatalysis. On/off light experiments confirmed the good spatiotemporal control feature, and chain expansion experiments demonstrated the high “activity” of polymer chain ends. Furthermore, the mechanistic research elucidated that electron transfer between Tp‐Azo‐COF and initiator occurred, allowing the formation of reactive radicals to mediate RCMP. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the coordination of iodine on the initiator to catalyst obviously reduced the bond dissociation energy, leading to enhance in the polymerization rate. This work provides a platform for constructing heterogeneous photocatalysts with more efficient and stable to mediate RCMP.

Synthesis of well‐defined aromatic poly(amide‐ether)s via chain‐growth condensation polymerization

AbstractSince their advent over 50 years ago, aromatic polyamides have remained desirable for their thermal stability, mechanical strength, and overall versatility. Chain‐growth condensation (CGC) polymerization has made possible the synthesis of well‐defined polyamides with narrow molecular weight distributions for applications ranging from block copolymers to polymer brushes. However, the solubility of aromatic polyamides has always been a major obstacle to overcome due to aromatic π‐π stacking and intramolecular hydrogen bonding. In this article, we introduce an aryl ether functionality into the polyamide backbone to increase backbone flexibility and overall solubility. Through dropwise addition of the aryl ether functionalized monomer with a lithium disilazide base and a phenyl 4‐(dimethylcarbamoyl)benzoate initiator, we report the synthesis of a series of substituted poly(amide‐ether)s through CGC polymerization with low polydispersities (<1.1) and well‐defined molecular weights. Computational methods revealed that the polymerization mechanism is unlike other similar amino ester monomers bearing naphthalene and biphenyl aromatic units in that monomer self‐deactivation is weakened by the ether linkage. The self‐condensation of the amide‐ether monomer was nevertheless suppressed through reaction optimization, challenging the traditional requirement of monomer self‐deactivation to achieve a well‐defined CGC polymerization. The side‐chain on poly(amide‐ether) backbone was also modified from an octyl group to a 4‐(octyloxy)benzyl protecting group for postpolymerization removal with trifluoroacetic acid to yield the unsubstituted aromatic poly(amide‐ether), which showed a significant improvement in solubility from traditional unsubstituted aromatic polyamides, such as poly(p‐benzamide).

Synthesis of hyperbranched polyethylene-graft-poly[3-ethyl-3-(methacryloyloxy)methyloxetane] via chain walking polymerization and ATRP for cationic photo-curing on membrane surface

Polyethylene is among the most widely-used coating materials due to the excellent physical and mechanical properties. However, the chemical inertness and poor solubility limit the application of polyethylene in coating. In this study, hyperbranched polyethylene-based graft copolymers containing functional oxetane groups (HBPE-g-POXMA) were synthesized via chain walking polymerization (CWP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in tandem. Macroinitiators were first synthesized via CWP of ethylene and trimethyl(undec-10-en-1-yloxy) silane following deprotection and esterification reaction. Subsequent ATRP of 3-ethyl-3-(methacryloyloxy) methyloxetane was performed to yield functional polyethylene with controlled molecular weight (MW), relatively narrow MW distribution, good solubility in organic solvents as well as pendant oxetane groups for photopolymerization. Finally, cationic photo-curing of HBPE-g-POXMA was conducted to build crosslinked polyethylene layers on polypropylene membrane surface. The composite membrane showed a narrow pore size distribution (0.03–0.63 μm) and an average pore size of merely 0.31 μm, which exhibited a retention ratio of over 90 % for different dyes. The strategy developed in this study could provide a synthetic route to hyperbranched polyethylene for functional coating via cationic photo-curing.