GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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Abstract
Polyethylenimines (PEI) are commercial hyperbranched polymers, which can be phosphonated into polyethylenimines (PEIP) by the method of Moedritzer–Irani under microwave irradiation. Totally phosphonated PEIP are very efficient resins for metal ions extraction, and are also excellent anti-corrosion agents of steel. Partially phosphonated PEIP stabilize the maghemite nanoparticles and form core-shells, which have been used as platforms for the immobilization of trypsin and β−cyclodextrin. Partially phosphonated PEIP also stabilize antibacterial silver nanoparticles.