Lubrication plays an important role in maintaining the daily activities of living organisms and the normal operation of machine equipment. Polymer brushes have received great attention due to their excellent lubricity

good controllability and stimuli-responsiveness. Starting from the structural bionics

the researchers have designed a variety of polymer brushes with different topological structure

which optimized the structure and function of linear polymer brushes. In this review

lubrication mechanisms and research progress of polymer brushes are introduced

and the lubrication effect of several topological structures of polymer brushes has been compared

including lines

loops

bottle brushes and particles. Finally the prospect of polymer brush lubricants is predicted.