Supramolecular control over thermoresponsive polymers

Abstract

Thermoresponsive polymers facilitate the development of a wide range of applications in multiple areas spanning from construction or water management to lab-on-a-chip technologies and biomedical sciences. The combination of thermoresponsive polymers with supramolecular chemistry, inspired by the molecular mechanisms behind natural systems, is resulting in adaptive and smart materials with unprecedented properties. This work reviews the past advances on the combination of this young field of research with polymer chemistry that is enabling a high level of control on polymer architecture and stimuli-responsiveness in solution. We will discuss how such polymer systems are able to store thermal information, respond to multiple stimuli in a reversible manner, or adapt their morphology on demand, all powered by the synergy between polymer chemistry and supramolecular chemistry

Complexation of thermoresponsive dialkoxynaphthalene end-functionalized poly(oligoethylene glycol acrylate)s with CBPQT4+in water

“…42 It is clear that the combination of supramolecular hosts with thermoresponsive polymers displaying complementary and specific recognition properties represents a straightforward strategy to finely modulate the solution behavior of thermoresponsive polymers. 33 Nonetheless, there are surprisingly few studies focusing on the fundamental aspects of how thermoresponsive polymers can influence host-guest complexation as the majority of reports are proof of concept studies showing that the host-guest interactions can influence the T CP .…”

Supramolecular Competitive Host–Guest Interaction Induced Reversible Macromolecular Metamorphosis

“…In this scenario, the reversibility of supramolecular chemistry (noncovalent interaction) paves the way for reversibly changing the polymer architecture . Supramolecular copolymers have received considerable attention in the past decades for their easy modularity and applicability . The advances of highly specific and effective host–guest supramolecular complexes enable the construction of different responsive polymers for diverse applications ranging from drug delivery, sensors, etc .…”

Triple responsive block copolymers combining pH‐responsive, thermoresponsive, and glucose‐responsive behaviors

“…A number of polymeric systems have been shown to exhibit reversible changes in conformation or solubility in response to environmental changes, making these materials attractive for use in areas like drug delivery, analyte sensing, or tissue engineering . By selectively incorporating certain functional groups, such responsive materials can undergo a number of property changes as a result of external influences, including non‐chemical stimuli such as light or temperature, or through chemical stimuli such as changes in pH, redox reactions, or dynamic‐covalent, and supramolecular interactions . Photoresponsive materials often demonstrate reversible isomerization upon irradiation and commonly include materials with azobenzene moieties or spiropyrans .…”