Multi-stimuli responsive macromolecules and their assemblies

Abstract

In this review, we outline examples that illustrate the design criteria for achieving macromolecular assemblies that incorporate a combination of two or more chemical, physical or biological stimuli-responsive components. Progress in both fundamental investigation into the phase transformations of these polymers in response to multiple stimuli and their utilization in a variety of pratical applications have been highlighted. Using these examples, we aim to explain the origin of employed mechanisms of stimuli responsiveness which may serve as a guideline to inspire future design of multi-stimuli responsive materials.

Simultaneous Monitoring of the Effects of Multiple Ionic Strengths on Properties of Copolymeric Polyelectrolytes during Their Synthesis

“…These next-generation materials are expected to have applications in medicine, sensors, self-healing materials, and environmental remediation [1][2][3][4][5]. Hydrogels ofpoly(N-isopropylacrylamide), for example, have a lower critical solution temperature (LCST), near body temperature, which makes it a candidate for drug delivery applications in which the NIPAM-based polymer releases its medical…”

“…SRP is a vast area of modern polymer science and engineering, aimed at producing polymers that can respond to such stimuli as temperature, radiation, and solution conditions such as pH, ionic strength, polymer concentration, presence of such agents as surfactants, nanoparticles, hydrophobic species, etc. The types of responses that can occur in response to these stimuli include coil/globule phase transitions, polymer coil expansion or shrinkage, micellization, aggregation, and other forms of spontaneous self-assembly.These next-generation materials are expected to have applications in medicine, sensors, self-healing materials, and environmental remediation [1][2][3][4][5]. Hydrogels ofpoly(N-isopropylacrylamide), for example, have a lower critical solution temperature (LCST), near body temperature, which makes it a candidate for drug delivery applications in which the NIPAM-based polymer releases its medical…”

pH-responsive dendritic polyrotaxane drug-polymer conjugates forming nanoparticles as efficient drug delivery system for cancer therapy

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Apart from the conventional linear copolymers and wellknown spherical symmetry of dendrimers, linear-dendritic copolymers are a unique class of macromolecules with unique solid and solution state properties. They are largely dependent on the chemistry, size and solvophilicity gradient between the respective blocks, and they have attracted interest due to their potential use as drug and gene delivery devices because of their ability to form micelles with critical micelle concentration (CMC) values well below the CMC values of traditional surfactants.…”

A supramolecular strategy to assemble multifunctional viral nanoparticles

“…1,2 For example, the development of theranostic nanoparticles loaded with therapeutic drugs and imaging probes for the combined therapy and diagnosis has been gaining wide interest. 3,4 Recently, inspired by the hierarchical structures of biogenic viral particles, multifunctional virus-like nanostructures have been constructed from synthetic polymers. 5,6 In the meantime, the application of viral nanoparticles (VNPs) derived from plants and bacteria in biomedical fields has also attracted great attention, primarily due to their well-defined, programmable, multivalent and monodispersed structural features [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] as well as their good biocompatibility.…”