Recent advances in the solution self‐assembly of amphiphilic “rod‐coil” copolymers

Abstract

Solution self‐assembly of amphiphilic “rod‐coil” copolymers, especially linear block copolymers and graft copolymers (also referred to as polymer brushes), has attracted considerable interest, as replacing one of the blocks of a coil‐coil copolymer with a rigid segment results in distinct self‐assembly features compared with those of the coil‐coil copolymer. The unique interplay between microphase separation of the rod and coil blocks with great geometric disparities can lead to the formation of unusual morphologies that are distinctly different from those known for coil‐coil copolymers. This review presents the recent achievements in the controlled self‐assembly of rod‐coil linear block copolymers and graft copolymers in solution, focusing on copolymer systems containing conjugated polymers, liquid crystalline polymers, polypeptides, and polyisocyanates as the rod segments. The discussions concentrate on the principle of controlling over the morphology of rod‐coil copolymer assemblies, as well as their distinctive optical and optoelectronic properties or biocompatibility and stimuli‐responsiveness, which afford the assemblies great potential as functional materials particularly for optical, optoelectronic and biological applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 1459–1477

Block and Graft Copolymers Made of 16‐Membered Macrolactones and l‐Alanine: A Comparative Study

“…Block and graft copolymers in which homogeneous monomer sequences are incompatible and therefore able to spontaneously self‐assemble in organized arrangements are the preferred compounds for building nanostructured polymeric systems . In this regard, amphiphilic copolymers made of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments are particularly interesting given their capacity to form biphasic nanoparticles including compact, hollow, and core‐shell objects, when they are free to self‐assemble in aqueous media . As a subfamily of heterogeneous copolymers, those integrated by aliphatic polyester and poly(α‐amino acid) segments have received great attention in these last years due to the outstanding assortment of properties that may be attained by such combination.…”

Prolate and Temperature‐Responsive Self‐Assemblies of Amphiphilic Random Copolymers with Perfluoroalkyl and Polyoxyethylene Side Chains in Solution

“…Special self-assembled nanostructures are generated in solution by amphiphilic copolymers, in which the hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties interact separately and very differently with each other and with the external environment. [1][2][3][4] www.advancedsciencenews.com www.mcp-journal.de specialized nanocompartments would allow for unique activities and functions. [26][27][28][29] Therefore, there is a growing interest in understanding the capabilities of amphiphilic random copolymers to self-assemble in different structures in solution.…”

Facile Synthesis of Helical Rod–Coil Block Polymers by the Combination of ATRP and Pd(II)‐Initiated Isocyanides Polymerizations

“…In past decades, advanced achievements have been witnessed in the field of block copolymers . Block copolymers provide extensive scientific interests because of the potential applications in the field of biotechnology, organic electronics, drug delivery, and advanced plastics .…”

“…Block copolymers provide extensive scientific interests because of the potential applications in the field of biotechnology, organic electronics, drug delivery, and advanced plastics . In general, the categories of manufacture block copolymers can be summarized in three types: “coil–coil,” “rod–rod,” and “rod–coil” copolymers . Different from common structures, rod–coil copolymers, the ordered polymer manufactures with rigid rod segments, present unusual structures like helices, ribbons, rings, and tubules compared with the flexible counterparts .…”

“…In order to construct the needed polymers, precise synthetic strategies are created, for instance, living radical, anionic and cationic polymerizations, ring‐opening polymerization, and functional chain‐ends connection of telechelic polymers . By the prosperity of those establishments, “rod–coil” flourished, however, to obtain rod–coil copolymers with low dispersity and high yield still remains a great challenge to scientists …”