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 release, and 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 chemistry, including disulfide bonds, boronate ester bonds, imine bonds, and [2 + 2] cycloaddition, within the PISA framework and provides guidelines for future research on the development of dynamically responsive and multifunctional PISA nanomaterials.