Pub Date : 2025-08-30DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102014
Baoquan Wan , Jun-Wei Zha , Zhi-Min Dang
Environmentally friendly dielectric polymer materials that can subjectively adapt to environmental changes and self-restore mechanical and electrical insulation properties continue to emerge. These adaptive systems are expected to revolutionize the development of smart grids, power electronic systems, and other fields. We will present a new trend emerging in environmentally friendly dielectric design that utilizes reversible chemistry (both non-covalent and covalent) to control reactions originating at the most fundamental (molecular) level. Dielectrics designed with this molecular structure will be able to heal or recycle themselves on a macroscopic scale as a result of changes in the molecular structure of the material (i.e., rearrangement or reorganization of polymer components or aggregates). However, the ability to design the molecular structure and ensure the original excellent properties of the dielectric is of interest to researchers. This review will summarize the challenges and opportunities in chemical structure modification with respect to the needs of dielectric application scenarios and specific examples. Furthermore, it will guide the design and preparation of environmentally friendly dielectrics and promote the development of interdisciplinary research between high-voltage insulation technology and polymer chemistry.
{"title":"Chemical structure design for eco-friendly dielectric polymer materials","authors":"Baoquan Wan , Jun-Wei Zha , Zhi-Min Dang","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmentally friendly dielectric polymer materials that can subjectively adapt to environmental changes and self-restore mechanical and electrical insulation properties continue to emerge. These adaptive systems are expected to revolutionize the development of smart grids, power electronic systems, and other fields. We will present a new trend emerging in environmentally friendly dielectric design that utilizes reversible chemistry (both non-covalent and covalent) to control reactions originating at the most fundamental (molecular) level. Dielectrics designed with this molecular structure will be able to heal or recycle themselves on a macroscopic scale as a result of changes in the molecular structure of the material (i.e., rearrangement or reorganization of polymer components or aggregates). However, the ability to design the molecular structure and ensure the original excellent properties of the dielectric is of interest to researchers. This review will summarize the challenges and opportunities in chemical structure modification with respect to the needs of dielectric application scenarios and specific examples. Furthermore, it will guide the design and preparation of environmentally friendly dielectrics and promote the development of interdisciplinary research between high-voltage insulation technology and polymer chemistry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 102014"},"PeriodicalIF":26.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144920855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-11DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102012
Xi Chen, Jiahao Yao, Yong Lu, Yixin Li, Zhenhua Yan, Kai Zhang, Jun Chen
Conjugated carbonyl polymers (CCPs) have emerged as a promising class of organic electrode materials for high-performance organic lithium batteries, offering unique advantages such as structural versatility, tunable electrochemical properties, sustainability, and high theoretical capacity. These materials address key limitations of traditional inorganic electrodes, including resource scarcity and environmental concerns. Their conjugated π-systems enhance electron transport, and polymerised structures improve anti-dissolution and thermal stability. However, challenges such as low conductivity, limited carbonyl utilization, high synthesis costs, and compatibility issues with existing battery systems hinder their practical application. This review comprehensively summarizes the research progress of CCPs in organic lithium batteries, focusing on strategies to optimize their structure and performance through molecular engineering, morphology control, composite synthesis, and electrode fabrication. It analyzes the fundamental relationships between molecular structure, electrochemical performance, and practical applicability, highlighting advancements in enhancing conductivity, cycle stability, and rate capability. Furthermore, the review discusses current challenges, including cost reduction of synthesis, improvement of structural stability, and optimisation of interfaces, alongside potential solutions and future research directions. By integrating insights from computational simulations, experimental studies, and practical application considerations, this work underscores the potential of CCPs to advance next-generation high-energy-density, sustainable organic lithium batteries, paving the way for their broader adoption in energy storage technologies.
{"title":"Research progress on conjugated carbonyl polymer electrodes for organic lithium batteries","authors":"Xi Chen, Jiahao Yao, Yong Lu, Yixin Li, Zhenhua Yan, Kai Zhang, Jun Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conjugated carbonyl polymers (CCPs) have emerged as a promising class of organic electrode materials for high-performance organic lithium batteries, offering unique advantages such as structural versatility, tunable electrochemical properties, sustainability, and high theoretical capacity. These materials address key limitations of traditional inorganic electrodes, including resource scarcity and environmental concerns. Their conjugated π-systems enhance electron transport, and polymerised structures improve anti-dissolution and thermal stability. However, challenges such as low conductivity, limited carbonyl utilization, high synthesis costs, and compatibility issues with existing battery systems hinder their practical application. This review comprehensively summarizes the research progress of CCPs in organic lithium batteries, focusing on strategies to optimize their structure and performance through molecular engineering, morphology control, composite synthesis, and electrode fabrication. It analyzes the fundamental relationships between molecular structure, electrochemical performance, and practical applicability, highlighting advancements in enhancing conductivity, cycle stability, and rate capability. Furthermore, the review discusses current challenges, including cost reduction of synthesis, improvement of structural stability, and optimisation of interfaces, alongside potential solutions and future research directions. By integrating insights from computational simulations, experimental studies, and practical application considerations, this work underscores the potential of CCPs to advance next-generation high-energy-density, sustainable organic lithium batteries, paving the way for their broader adoption in energy storage technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 102012"},"PeriodicalIF":26.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144819395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102004
Jun Jie Chang, Qianyu Lin, Nicholas Ong, Joey Wong Hui Min, Valerie Ow, Belynn Sim, Cally Owh, Rubayn Goh, Jason Y.C. Lim, Xian Jun Loh
Thermogels are promising biomaterials with the ability to attain temperature-induced sol-gel transitions. This property enables their injectability, facilitating minimally invasive administration for a range of biomedical applications including drug delivery, tissue engineering and wound healing. However, their assembly via physical crosslinks often result in weaker mechanical properties when compared to covalent hydrogels. Over the years, the development of more sophisticated thermogels by leveraging past insights and incorporating novel synthetic and fabrication techniques has successfully resulted in a wide variety of thermogels with a range of physicochemical properties. This has enabled the precise control over the physical and chemical characteristics of thermogels, allowing their customization for various applications through rational design. This review categorizes the desirable qualities of thermogels into key physical and biochemical properties, highlighting their importance in performance optimization. Then, it explores the various strategies and approaches that have been used by research groups to precisely tailor thermogel properties, discussing the insights gained from these results. Finally, the review provides a perspective on the future of thermogel development. Collectively, the insights provided herein will guide rational and targeted design of thermogel properties that serve emerging biomedical applications and beyond.
{"title":"Polymeric thermogels: Fundamentals and strategies for their rational design","authors":"Jun Jie Chang, Qianyu Lin, Nicholas Ong, Joey Wong Hui Min, Valerie Ow, Belynn Sim, Cally Owh, Rubayn Goh, Jason Y.C. Lim, Xian Jun Loh","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102004","url":null,"abstract":"Thermogels are promising biomaterials with the ability to attain temperature-induced sol-gel transitions. This property enables their injectability, facilitating minimally invasive administration for a range of biomedical applications including drug delivery, tissue engineering and wound healing. However, their assembly via physical crosslinks often result in weaker mechanical properties when compared to covalent hydrogels. Over the years, the development of more sophisticated thermogels by leveraging past insights and incorporating novel synthetic and fabrication techniques has successfully resulted in a wide variety of thermogels with a range of physicochemical properties. This has enabled the precise control over the physical and chemical characteristics of thermogels, allowing their customization for various applications through rational design. This review categorizes the desirable qualities of thermogels into key physical and biochemical properties, highlighting their importance in performance optimization. Then, it explores the various strategies and approaches that have been used by research groups to precisely tailor thermogel properties, discussing the insights gained from these results. Finally, the review provides a perspective on the future of thermogel development. Collectively, the insights provided herein will guide rational and targeted design of thermogel properties that serve emerging biomedical applications and beyond.","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144787350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102002
Sofie Houben , Marta Mestre Membrado , Lander Van Belleghem , Ion Olazabal , Niels Van Velthoven , Karolien Vanbroekhoven , Haritz Sardon , Dirk De Vos , Elias Feghali , Kathy Elst
Nitrogen containing polymers (NCPs), particularly polyurethanes (PU) and polyamides (PA), play a crucial role in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications, leading to exponential growth in recent years. The production of both polymers relies primarily on fossil-fuel-derived monomers and lacks sustainable waste disposal solutions. To reduce fossil-fuel dependency, scaling up chemical recycling to an industrial scale is essential. Various systems have been developed at a lab scale, nevertheless, progress toward industrial-scale implementation remains scarce. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the main chemical recycling approaches. Systems already operating at an industrial scale are reviewed separately and a general comparison of all techniques is made for each polymer. Beyond technical aspects, this review highlights broader challenges, including concerns with economic feasibility, regulatory constraints related to handling toxic compounds, and logistical challenges in waste collection. The future perspective gives an update on the state-of-the-art of chemical recycling and outlines the current limitations toward a fully circular economy for the two major NCPs.
{"title":"Chemical recycling of nitrogen containing polymers: processes and industrial prospects","authors":"Sofie Houben , Marta Mestre Membrado , Lander Van Belleghem , Ion Olazabal , Niels Van Velthoven , Karolien Vanbroekhoven , Haritz Sardon , Dirk De Vos , Elias Feghali , Kathy Elst","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nitrogen containing polymers (NCPs), particularly polyurethanes (PU) and polyamides (PA), play a crucial role in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications, leading to exponential growth in recent years. The production of both polymers relies primarily on fossil-fuel-derived monomers and lacks sustainable waste disposal solutions. To reduce fossil-fuel dependency, scaling up chemical recycling to an industrial scale is essential. Various systems have been developed at a lab scale, nevertheless, progress toward industrial-scale implementation remains scarce. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the main chemical recycling approaches. Systems already operating at an industrial scale are reviewed separately and a general comparison of all techniques is made for each polymer. Beyond technical aspects, this review highlights broader challenges, including concerns with economic feasibility, regulatory constraints related to handling toxic compounds, and logistical challenges in waste collection. The future perspective gives an update on the state-of-the-art of chemical recycling and outlines the current limitations toward a fully circular economy for the two major NCPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 102002"},"PeriodicalIF":26.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144787349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-30DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102003
Hojun Lee, Yeonji Lee, Namjun Kim, Moon Jeong Park
End-group functionalization has emerged as a powerful and versatile strategy in polymer science, offering precise control over physical properties, nanoscale self-assembly, and interfacial functionality without altering the polymer backbone. This review summarizes recent progress in the chemistry and applications of end-functionalized polymers across three thematic domains. First, we examine how tailored end groups influence intrinsic polymer properties, including thermal transitions, solubility, crystallization behaviors, and interfacial adhesion. Second, we explore the role of end-group interactions in directing polymer self-assembly, emphasizing their ability to modulate chain packing, interfacial curvature, and phase behavior in block copolymer systems, particularly in the formation of complex network morphologies. Third, we highlight the growing technological relevance of end-functionalized polymers with network morphologies in emerging applications such as solid-state battery electrolytes, mechanical metamaterials, and optical metamaterials. In polymer electrolytes, ion–dipole interactions localized at the chain termini decouple ion transport from segmental motion, yielding high ionic conductivity and low activation energy at low salt concentrations. In mechanical metamaterials, end-group-directed 3D networks enhance structural resilience and tunable deformation behavior. In optical metamaterials, metal-end-functionalized block copolymers could serve as nanoscale templates for the bottom-up fabrication of high-refractive-index architectures via metal–ligand coordination, tackling the resolution limits of top-down lithography. Collectively, these advances underscore the transformative potential of end-group chemistry for next-generation polymer materials.
{"title":"Polymer Chain-End Chemistry: Unlocking Next-Generation Functional Materials","authors":"Hojun Lee, Yeonji Lee, Namjun Kim, Moon Jeong Park","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102003","url":null,"abstract":"End-group functionalization has emerged as a powerful and versatile strategy in polymer science, offering precise control over physical properties, nanoscale self-assembly, and interfacial functionality without altering the polymer backbone. This review summarizes recent progress in the chemistry and applications of end-functionalized polymers across three thematic domains. First, we examine how tailored end groups influence intrinsic polymer properties, including thermal transitions, solubility, crystallization behaviors, and interfacial adhesion. Second, we explore the role of end-group interactions in directing polymer self-assembly, emphasizing their ability to modulate chain packing, interfacial curvature, and phase behavior in block copolymer systems, particularly in the formation of complex network morphologies. Third, we highlight the growing technological relevance of end-functionalized polymers with network morphologies in emerging applications such as solid-state battery electrolytes, mechanical metamaterials, and optical metamaterials. In polymer electrolytes, ion–dipole interactions localized at the chain termini decouple ion transport from segmental motion, yielding high ionic conductivity and low activation energy at low salt concentrations. In mechanical metamaterials, end-group-directed 3D networks enhance structural resilience and tunable deformation behavior. In optical metamaterials, metal-end-functionalized block copolymers could serve as nanoscale templates for the bottom-up fabrication of high-refractive-index architectures via metal–ligand coordination, tackling the resolution limits of top-down lithography. Collectively, these advances underscore the transformative potential of end-group chemistry for next-generation polymer materials.","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"216 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144747732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-30DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102005
Sukyoung Won , Kijun Yang , Jeong Jae Wie
Miniaturized magnetic robots can be wirelessly maneuvered into hard-to-reach regions beyond the limits of manual control, enabling diverse functionalities such as drug delivery, microfluidic control, cargo transportation, ultraprecision polishing, and microplastic removal. From the perspective of mechanical engineering, robot locomotion has been extensively discussed in previous reviews. However, targeted and high-precision actuation requires multidisciplinary understanding from the perspective of polymer and materials science, which remains insufficiently covered in earlier reviews. This review aims to elucidate processing–structure–property–performance relationships in recent magnetically responsive polymer composites (i.e., magnetic polymer composites) for magnetic robot actuation. We address processing strategies and underlying rationales for magnetic polymer composites by considering magnetic properties of magnetic fillers and thermal processability of polymer matrices. Locomotion of millimeter-to-nanometer scale robots is discussed based on comprehensive understanding of processing, structure, properties, and actuation of magnetic polymer composites. This review offers insights required to advance magnetic robotics, paving the way for future miniaturized actuators and robots with diverse biomedical, environmental, industrial, and interdisciplinary functions.
{"title":"Processing–Structure–Property–Performance relationships of polymer composites for untethered magnetic robotics","authors":"Sukyoung Won , Kijun Yang , Jeong Jae Wie","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.102005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Miniaturized magnetic robots can be wirelessly maneuvered into hard-to-reach regions beyond the limits of manual control, enabling diverse functionalities such as drug delivery, microfluidic control, cargo transportation, ultraprecision polishing, and microplastic removal. From the perspective of mechanical engineering, robot locomotion has been extensively discussed in previous reviews. However, targeted and high-precision actuation requires multidisciplinary understanding from the perspective of polymer and materials science, which remains insufficiently covered in earlier reviews. This review aims to elucidate processing–structure–property–performance relationships in recent magnetically responsive polymer composites (i.e., magnetic polymer composites) for magnetic robot actuation. We address processing strategies and underlying rationales for magnetic polymer composites by considering magnetic properties of magnetic fillers and thermal processability of polymer matrices. Locomotion of millimeter-to-nanometer scale robots is discussed based on comprehensive understanding of processing, structure, properties, and actuation of magnetic polymer composites. This review offers insights required to advance magnetic robotics, paving the way for future miniaturized actuators and robots with diverse biomedical, environmental, industrial, and interdisciplinary functions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 102005"},"PeriodicalIF":26.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144737630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-10DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101994
Ilaria Abdel Aziz , David Mecerreyes
In the last decades, ionic polymers have been used as key materials for energy applications as solid polymer electrolytes, binders and ionomers in devices such as batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cells. More recently, ionic polymers are becoming enabling materials also in bioelectronics for new biomedical technologies. This review aims to collect and discuss the recent advances in polymer design, synthesis and characterization of ionic polymers for bioelectronic devices. The review includes the ionic polymer families that are being developed, such as poly(ionic liquid)s and poly(eutectic solvents), as well as ionic gel families such as hydrogels, ionogels and eutectogels. Polymers and gels from purely ionic conductors to mixed ionic electronic conducting polymers will be discussed. We delve into structure-ion conductivity relationships and outline current and possible applications of such novel conductive materials. These ionic polymers are central to the development of fundamental bioelectronic devices such as organic electrochemical transistors, amperometric detectors, controlled-release devices, and even disruptive neuromorphic computing.
{"title":"Ionic polymers for bioelectronics","authors":"Ilaria Abdel Aziz , David Mecerreyes","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101994","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101994","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the last decades, ionic polymers have been used as key materials for energy applications as solid polymer electrolytes, binders and ionomers in devices such as batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cells. More recently, ionic polymers are becoming enabling materials also in bioelectronics for new biomedical technologies. This review aims to collect and discuss the recent advances in polymer design, synthesis and characterization of ionic polymers for bioelectronic devices. The review includes the ionic polymer families that are being developed, such as poly(ionic liquid)s and poly(eutectic solvents), as well as ionic gel families such as hydrogels, ionogels and eutectogels. Polymers and gels from purely ionic conductors to mixed ionic electronic conducting polymers will be discussed. We delve into structure-ion conductivity relationships and outline current and possible applications of such novel conductive materials. These ionic polymers are central to the development of fundamental bioelectronic devices such as organic electrochemical transistors, amperometric detectors, controlled-release devices, and even disruptive neuromorphic computing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101994"},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144594900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-07DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101991
Zoi Terzopoulou , Alexandra Zamboulis , Nikolaos D. Bikiaris , Eleftheria Xanthopoulou , Rafail O. Ioannidis , Dimitrios N. Bikiaris
Over the past decade, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) copolymers have emerged as a versatile class of materials, offering enhanced properties and broader application potential compared to neat PLA. As the leading biobased plastic, PLA has high strength, good processability, and industrial compostability; however, its brittleness, limited thermal stability, and slow (bio)degradation under ambient conditions hinder its widespread adoption in advanced applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of PLA-based copolymers, excluding PLA stereoisomers and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), focusing on their synthesis, structure-property relationships, and potential uses. Copolymerization strategies—including ring-opening polymerization (ROP), polycondensation, and controlled radical polymerization—enable precise control over PLA’s mechanical, thermal, and degradation characteristics. The incorporation of diverse comonomers, such as lactones, diacids, diols, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and naturally derived polymers, has led to copolymers with tuneable properties suited for packaging, textiles, biomedical applications, and sustainable materials engineering. Advances in block, random, and graft copolymer architectures further expand PLA's functionality, enabling the design of high-performance biobased materials. By summarizing recent findings, this review highlights how tailored PLA copolymers are shaping the future of sustainable polymers.
{"title":"A decade of innovation: Synthesis, properties and applications of PLA copolymers","authors":"Zoi Terzopoulou , Alexandra Zamboulis , Nikolaos D. Bikiaris , Eleftheria Xanthopoulou , Rafail O. Ioannidis , Dimitrios N. Bikiaris","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101991","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101991","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the past decade, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) copolymers have emerged as a versatile class of materials, offering enhanced properties and broader application potential compared to neat PLA. As the leading biobased plastic, PLA has high strength, good processability, and industrial compostability; however, its brittleness, limited thermal stability, and slow (bio)degradation under ambient conditions hinder its widespread adoption in advanced applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of PLA-based copolymers, excluding PLA stereoisomers and poly(lactic-<em>co</em>-glycolic acid) (PLGA), focusing on their synthesis, structure-property relationships, and potential uses. Copolymerization strategies—including ring-opening polymerization (ROP), polycondensation, and controlled radical polymerization—enable precise control over PLA’s mechanical, thermal, and degradation characteristics. The incorporation of diverse comonomers, such as lactones, diacids, diols, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and naturally derived polymers, has led to copolymers with tuneable properties suited for packaging, textiles, biomedical applications, and sustainable materials engineering. Advances in block, random, and graft copolymer architectures further expand PLA's functionality, enabling the design of high-performance biobased materials. By summarizing recent findings, this review highlights how tailored PLA copolymers are shaping the future of sustainable polymers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101991"},"PeriodicalIF":26.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144578477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-07DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101992
Alessio Lo Bocchiaro, Carlos Pavón, Francesca Lorandi, Edmondo M. Benetti
Nature produces macromolecules with discrete molar mass and precise composition, both of which are essential for ensuring structural control, distinctive properties, and specific functions. However, in some cases, bioderived components are heterogeneous in size, and this plays a crucial role in defining their physicochemical characteristics. In a similar way, polymer scientists have been striving to develop robust synthetic protocols to access macromolecules with homogeneous composition and discrete molar mass. Simultaneously, significant advances in controlled polymerization techniques have enabled the precise regulation of chain length heterogeneity, or dispersity (Đ), across a wide range of values. Achieving perfectly monodisperse polymers is not only a remarkable synthetic achievement but also provides fundamental building blocks for new classes of polymeric materials. These materials could be either free of defects or exhibit properties that are precisely tunable in a quantized manner. On the other hand, obtaining polymer samples with controlled dispersity provides an additional tuning parameter for the physicochemical properties of a variety of materials formulations. By leveraging macromolecular discreteness and fine-tuning polymer dispersity, we have expanded the toolbox for designing advanced “soft” materials. Block copolymers with discrete segment lengths or controlled dispersity can be used to create novel nanostructured materials. Stimuli-responsive polymeric systems can be engineered to precisely adjust their physical transitions while maintaining a constant chemical composition. In addition, tailoring polymer dispersity during the fabrication of gels and brush coatings enhances the ability to fine-tune their physicochemical properties, further broadening their potential applications.
{"title":"Discreteness and dispersity in the design of polymeric materials","authors":"Alessio Lo Bocchiaro, Carlos Pavón, Francesca Lorandi, Edmondo M. Benetti","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101992","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101992","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nature produces macromolecules with discrete molar mass and precise composition, both of which are essential for ensuring structural control, distinctive properties, and specific functions. However, in some cases, bioderived components are heterogeneous in size, and this plays a crucial role in defining their physicochemical characteristics. In a similar way, polymer scientists have been striving to develop robust synthetic protocols to access macromolecules with homogeneous composition and discrete molar mass. Simultaneously, significant advances in controlled polymerization techniques have enabled the precise regulation of chain length heterogeneity, or dispersity (<em>Đ</em>), across a wide range of values. Achieving perfectly monodisperse polymers is not only a remarkable synthetic achievement but also provides fundamental building blocks for new classes of polymeric materials. These materials could be either free of defects or exhibit properties that are precisely tunable in a quantized manner. On the other hand, obtaining polymer samples with controlled dispersity provides an additional tuning parameter for the physicochemical properties of a variety of materials formulations. By leveraging macromolecular discreteness and fine-tuning polymer dispersity, we have expanded the toolbox for designing advanced “soft” materials. Block copolymers with discrete segment lengths or controlled dispersity can be used to create novel nanostructured materials. Stimuli-responsive polymeric systems can be engineered to precisely adjust their physical transitions while maintaining a constant chemical composition. In addition, tailoring polymer dispersity during the fabrication of gels and brush coatings enhances the ability to fine-tune their physicochemical properties, further broadening their potential applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101992"},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144578476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-06DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101993
Nicholas Jäck , Sören Nagel , Laura Hartmann
Sequence-defined polymers offer unparalleled structural precision, enabling tailored biological interactions, enhanced stability, and optimized function. Unlike traditional synthetic polymers, which often lack defined structures, these materials allow for precise tuning of molecular interactions to improve biomedical performance. This review surveys advancements over the past decade, covering foundational studies that elucidate sequence-function relationships - such as interactions with model lectins - as well as direct biomedical applications including nucleotide delivery, lectin and protein inhibition, antibacterial and antiviral strategies, tumor therapy, and bioimaging. The control over polymer sequences is crucial for enhancing specificity, reducing off-target effects, and improving stability in physiological environments.
By comparing sequence-defined polymers with natural biopolymers and conventional synthetic materials, we highlight their advantages in addressing challenges like immune recognition, enzymatic degradation, and suboptimal pharmacokinetics. These materials present new avenues for developing targeted therapies, precision drug delivery systems, and advanced biomaterials.
Distinguishing itself from previous reviews focused on synthetic methodologies, this work emphasizes how sequence precision impacts biological function and thus potential biomedical applications. By summarizing foundational examples, recent breakthroughs and key challenges, we provide insights into the pivotal role of sequence-defined macromolecules in shaping the next generation of bioactive materials.
{"title":"Sequence-defined polymers for biomedical applications","authors":"Nicholas Jäck , Sören Nagel , Laura Hartmann","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101993","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2025.101993","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sequence-defined polymers offer unparalleled structural precision, enabling tailored biological interactions, enhanced stability, and optimized function. Unlike traditional synthetic polymers, which often lack defined structures, these materials allow for precise tuning of molecular interactions to improve biomedical performance. This review surveys advancements over the past decade, covering foundational studies that elucidate sequence-function relationships - such as interactions with model lectins - as well as direct biomedical applications including nucleotide delivery, lectin and protein inhibition, antibacterial and antiviral strategies, tumor therapy, and bioimaging. The control over polymer sequences is crucial for enhancing specificity, reducing off-target effects, and improving stability in physiological environments.</div><div>By comparing sequence-defined polymers with natural biopolymers and conventional synthetic materials, we highlight their advantages in addressing challenges like immune recognition, enzymatic degradation, and suboptimal pharmacokinetics. These materials present new avenues for developing targeted therapies, precision drug delivery systems, and advanced biomaterials.</div><div>Distinguishing itself from previous reviews focused on synthetic methodologies, this work emphasizes how sequence precision impacts biological function and thus potential biomedical applications. By summarizing foundational examples, recent breakthroughs and key challenges, we provide insights into the pivotal role of sequence-defined macromolecules in shaping the next generation of bioactive materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 101993"},"PeriodicalIF":26.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144566413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}