Polymerization-induced self-assembly nanomaterials based on dynamic covalent bonds

Abstract

Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) has emerged as a versatile and powerful methodology for the in situ generation of polymeric nanostructures with diverse morphologies and functionalities. Currently, dynamic covalent bonds (DCBs), known for their reversible and stimulus-responsive nature, offer a sophisticated tool for the precise modulation of polymer assemblies. The incorporation of DCBs into PISA facilitates the disaggregation, morphological transition, surface modification, controlled drug release, intra- and inter-micellar crosslinking of assemblies, thereby expanding the applications of PISA assemblies in drug delivery, targeted controlled release, molecular recognition, sensing, and modifiable micelle-crosslinked gels. The combination of PISA with DCBs offers a promising approach for designing adaptive and tunable block copolymer nano-object systems, providing new insights and opportunities in the field of polymer chemistry. This review discusses the integration of dynamic covalent bonds, including disulfide, boronate ester, imine, and [2+2] cycloaddition, within the PISA framework and provides guidelines for future research on the development of dynamically responsive and multifunctional PISA nanomaterials.