Advances in Phototriggered Synthesis of Single-Chain Polymer Nanoparticles

Abstract

Clean use of photons from light to activate chemical reactions offer many possibilities in different fields, from chemistry and biology to materials science and medicine. This review article describes the advances carried out in last decades toward the phototriggered synthesis of single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs) as soft nanomaterials with promising applications in enzyme-mimicking catalysis and nanomedicine, among other different uses. First, we summarize different strategies developed to synthesize SCNPs based on photoactivated intrachain homocoupling, phototriggered intrachain heterocoupling and photogenerated collapse induced by external cross-linker. Next, we comprehensively review the emergent topic of photoactivated multifolding applied to SCNP construction. Finally, we conclude by summarizing recent strategies towards phototriggered disassembly of SCNPs.

“Clickase” Single-Chain Nanoparticles: Effect of Intra-Chain Distribution of Catalytic Sites on Catalytic Activity

“…A great variety of intra-chain interactions have been used to construct SCNPs covering form covalent bonds to non-covalent and dynamic covalent interactions [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Interestingly enough, the folded conformation of SCNPs produces locally compact domains (i.e., local pockets) to which entrapment of substances of potential interest can be carried out (e.g., drugs for subsequent controlled delivery, metal ions for catalysis, luminophores for sensing) [18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. The outstanding opportunities of SCNPs for developing a new generation of enzyme-mimetic catalysts have been recently reviewed [6,25,26].…”