In situ modification of surfaces with thin layers of polymers is of growing interest as adjustment of surface properties can be made on demand. We present herein a supramolecular 'grafting to' polymer brush via the recognition of surface-bound cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) rotaxanes towards end-functionalised polyethylene glycol (PEG). This dynamic supramolecular method represents advantages over tra...

Opposing polymer brush layers at high grafting density were examined under confinement and characterized with respect to structure and interaction forces using molecular dynamics simulations in an explicit solvent. The brush system underwent a static compression, where the system is simulated at several discrete separation distances. These simulations are all at the same solvent chemical potent...

A theory describing layers of polymer chains grafted to a flat surface (polymer 'brush') is developed. We consider a brush of chains with arbitrary extensibility and, within the framework of molecular field theory, we suggest a general scheme for calculating the selfconsistent pseudo-potential, which determines the structure of the brush. This potential appears to be defined only by the mechani...

We investigate the mechanical properties of ultra-thin layers of polystyrene/poly (2-vinylpyridine) (PS/P2VP) block copolymers by means of a Surface Forces Apparatus adapted to operate as a rheometer at the molecular level. Two systems are studied: "brush/wall" and "brush/brush". A comparison of the normal force curves shows that when brushes are compressed against each other, they contract rat...

OBJECTIVE A low-viscosity resin (infiltrant) was used to inhibit the progression of white spot lesions (WSLs) and resolve associated esthetic issues. An alternative pretreatment was explored to increase the pore volume of the surface layer of the WSLs. Also, the penetration effects of the infiltrant were evaluated for various pretreatments. METHODS Sixty two artificial lesions were fabricated...

The rheology of confined polymer layers is of great fundamental importance because of its numerous industrial applications, e.g. the use of polymer as an additive to enhance the lubrication effect of two shearing surfaces separated by a very small distance. In the present study, we focus on one specific type of confined polymer system, the so-called polymer brush. A brush consists of many polym...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare the efficacy of an oscillating-rotating (O-R) power toothbrush with a brush head utilizing angled bristles to a marketed sonic toothbrush in the reduction of plaque and gingivitis over an eight-week period. METHODS This study used a randomized, examiner-blind, single-center, two-treatment, parallel group, eight-week design. Subjects with mild-to-moderate plaq...

In this article, we consolidate several literature reports in an attempt to provide a structural definition of a polymer brush as a tethered polymer layer with a high grafting density of polymer chains. We will try to distinguish a brush from grafted polymer layers and coated layers and provide a reasonable approach to the description of the brush regime with a single parameter S—reduced grafti...