The synthesis of the hyperbranched PMMA polymers was achieved
using a one-step, 100 g scale solution polymerisation reaction
based on the Strathclyde method, S1 [27e29]. The reaction is
essentially a linear polymerisation doped with appropriate
amounts of a multifunctional monomer, tripropylene glycol diacrylate
(TPGDA) and chain transfer agent, dodecanethiol (DDT). The
stoichiometric balance between monomer, multifunctional monomer
and chain transfer agent is critical in determining whether the
polymer maintains solubility throughout the reaction or gels with
an insoluble cross-linked network. Ratios of monomer: chain
transfer agent: multifunctional monomer and a molecular weight
data of the hyperbranched PMMA polymers used in this study are
given in