ABSTRACT
Branched polymer topologies can be used to affect favorable (or unfavorable) changes to material properties, but challenges remain in predicting how macromolecular structure effects physical behavior, and subsequently, in vivo carrier efficacy. This chapter aims to illustrate the current approaches, applications, and overall functional utility of non-linear polymer architectures, specifically star-shaped amphiphilic polymers, as soluble carriers for drug delivery system applications. Of the various branched and non-linear architectures, star-shaped polymers feature perhaps the widest array of topological diversity, thus allowing a broader survey of how architecture can affect therapeutically-relevant physiochemical polymer properties. Of the various approaches for generating star-shaped amphiphilic polymers, synthetic routes typically fall under two general classifications: core-first or arm-first. Naturally, a mixed approach can also be employed, with each star-building synthetic step being distinguished as core first (where the principal reagent is monomeric) or arm first (where the principal reagent is polymeric).
