Xingtang Xu , Jie Feng , Wen-Ying Li , Guojie Wang , Wei Feng , Haifeng Yu
{"title":"Azobenzene-containing polymer for solar thermal energy storage and release: Advances, challenges, and opportunities","authors":"Xingtang Xu , Jie Feng , Wen-Ying Li , Guojie Wang , Wei Feng , Haifeng Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101782","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101782","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Molecular solar thermal (MOST) fuels have attracted enormous research enthusiasm in solar energy conversion<span><span> and storage, which can generate high-energy isomers upon harvesting photon energy and release heat on demand through reversible isomerization of molecular photo-switches such as </span>azobenzene<span>. However, the pristine azobenzene suffers from limitations like low energy density<span>, short half-life and narrow absorption waveband. Recently, numerous azobenzene-based MOST fuels have been developed by various strategies including molecular engineering and template self-assembly to enhance the storage capacities, among which azobenzene-containing polymers (i.e., ‘azopolymers’) are the most promising materials for the development of MOST fuels. In this review, the state-of-the-art advances in azopolymer MOST fuels are systematically summarized. The critical parameters of azobenzene-based MOST fuels are highlighted. Various kinds of azopolymers for solar thermal energy storage and release such as azobenzene compound/polymer composites, linear azopolymers, dendrimer azopolymers, and other types of azopolymers are addressed. The most promising advantages and challenges of azopolymers for MOST fuels are analyzed, and emerging strategies as well as opportunities for future development are discussed with the goal to promote future development of MOST fuels towards innovative applications.</span></span></span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"149 ","pages":"Article 101782"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139041760","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}
Stefania Aivali, Catherine Beaumont, Mario Leclerc
{"title":"Conducting polymers: Towards printable transparent electrodes","authors":"Stefania Aivali, Catherine Beaumont, Mario Leclerc","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>Flexible electronic devices offer new appealing possibilities expanding and revolutionizing the field of energy, consumer electronics, communication, health, and more. Many of these technologies rely on transparent electrodes which are typically fabricated by Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) but there is an urgent need to find more sustainable and low-cost alternatives. While significant progress has been made, there are still challenges to overcome for the fabrication of efficient Transparent Electrodes (TEs). </span>Conducting polymers<span><span> offer a promising solution for printable TEs, combining conductivity (σ) and transparency with the benefits of abundance, lightweight, and flexibility. This Trend Article examines various material categories being studied for developing transparent electrodes, including metal oxides, metals, and carbon </span>nanostructures. The potential of conducting polymers is highlighted, along with the solution-based coating and printing technologies rising with them, to adapt to the intricate and emerging requirements of our modern world.</span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 101766"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138475970","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}
{"title":"Therapeutic supramolecular polymers: Designs and applications","authors":"Han Wang , Jason Mills , Boran Sun , Honggang Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101769","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101769","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>The self-assembly of low-molecular-weight building motifs into supramolecular polymers has unlocked a new realm of materials with distinct properties and tremendous potential for advancing medical practices. Leveraging the reversible and dynamic nature of non-covalent interactions, these supramolecular polymers exhibit inherent responsiveness to their microenvironment, physiological cues, and biomolecular signals, making them uniquely suited for diverse biomedical applications. In this review, we intend to explore the principles of design, synthesis methodologies, and strategic developments that underlie the creation of supramolecular polymers as carriers for therapeutics, contributing to the treatment and prevention of a spectrum of human diseases. We delve into the principles underlying </span>monomer design, emphasizing the pivotal role of non-covalent interactions, directionality, and reversibility. Moreover, we explore the intricate balance between thermodynamics and kinetics in supramolecular polymerization, illuminating strategies for achieving controlled sizes and distributions. Categorically, we examine their exciting biomedical applications: individual polymers as discrete carriers for therapeutics, delving into their interactions with cells, and in vivo dynamics; and supramolecular polymeric hydrogels as injectable depots, with a focus on their roles in cancer immunotherapy, sustained drug release, and regenerative medicine. As the field continues to burgeon, harnessing the unique attributes of therapeutic supramolecular polymers holds the promise of transformative impacts across the biomedical landscape.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 101769"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138481191","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}
{"title":"Recyclable/degradable materials via the insertion of labile/cleavable bonds using a comonomer approach","authors":"Catherine Lefay, Yohann Guillaneuf","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101764","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101764","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span><span><span>Polymers have many advantages such as low weight, low cost, and, importantly, stability under thermal, chemical, and mechanical stress. This stability, on the other hand, leads to criticism for causing environmental pollution on a macro-scale and via long-lasting microscopic plastic fragments (microplastics). Since it is very difficult but also very expensive to design brand-new materials that could both have the desired properties (mechanical, thermal, solvent resistance, etc.) and that are in the same time either recyclable and/or biodegradable, transforming already known materials to make them biodegradable/recyclable is more interesting. This approach relies on the introduction of labile/cleavable bonds onto the polymer backbone. The degradation could thus occur from these weak bonds leading to </span>oligomers<span> that could be easily recyclable and/or bioassimilable. This approach is currently applied to all polymerization techniques and led to interesting alternatives to numerous polymers ranging from polyolefins (polyethylene, </span></span>polypropylene, …), </span>polyethylene oxide<span><span>, polyesters, polyamides, </span>vinyl polymers<span>, thermosets, etc. This review thus aimed at giving a comprehensive overview of the chemistries/monomers that could be used for the different polymerization processes but also described the alternatives to common polymers whatever the polymerization process. An emphasis will be put on the degradation/biodegradation/recycling properties of the new materials.</span></span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 101764"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"110423095","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}
Qun Song , Zengbin Wang , Dan Xu , Siyuan Liu , Huan Liu , Kai Zhang
{"title":"Self-assembly of polysaccharide nanocrystals: from aggregation in suspensions to optical materials","authors":"Qun Song , Zengbin Wang , Dan Xu , Siyuan Liu , Huan Liu , Kai Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101768","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101768","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>Bottom-up synthesis strategies to construct nano-architectonic material exhibiting specific properties by controlling the spatial distribution of the material units are challenging. Native polysaccharide<span><span> nanocrystals, primarily </span>cellulose and </span></span>chitin<span><span> nanocrystals (CNCs and ChNCs), possess excellent intrinsic biodegradability, biocompatibility, tailorable surface chemistry, and unprecedented optical and mechanical properties. These nanocrystals, in particular CNCs, have attracted considerable attention within the last years for constructing optical materials via bottom-up self-assembly. Here, the physicochemical mechanisms underlying the self-assembly of CNC nanocrystals and the structure-property relations of CNC nanocrystal assembly structures are summarized, including the transition from the isotropic phase at low concentrations to the cholesteric phase at high concentrations, and finally to dry films in a fixed state. The properties of aggregated and self-assembled CNCs are described in detail. Based on the dimensions of self-assembled structures as divided in zero-, one, two and three-dimensional constructions, recent advances of polysaccharide nanocrystals-based optical materials are discussed. Finally, the challenges of the methods for the environmentally benign preparation of polysaccharide nanocrystals are identified and the opportunities for realizing novel </span>functional materials based on polysaccharide nanocrystal assembly are described.</span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 101768"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2023-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138456245","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}
Shuo Chen , Yihan Wang , Lei Yang , Chengzhen Chu , Shichun Cao , Zhao Wang , Jiajia Xue , Zhengwei You
{"title":"Biodegradable elastomers for biomedical applications","authors":"Shuo Chen , Yihan Wang , Lei Yang , Chengzhen Chu , Shichun Cao , Zhao Wang , Jiajia Xue , Zhengwei You","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101763","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101763","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>Synthetic biodegradable elastomers, such as polyesters and </span>polyurethanes<span> have revolutionized biomedical therapeutic strategies and devices. Driven by innovations in chemical synthesis and processing technologies, a series of biodegradable elastomers and corresponding devices with controllable properties and various functionalities have been developed. In this review, we have summarized the recent progress in synthesis, process technologies, and biomedical applications of biodegradable elastomers. Particular emphasis is on the molecular design for biodegradability, elasticity, and the newly developed functionalities including self-healing, antibacterial, fluorescence, and shape-memory of biodegradable polyesters and polyurethane as well as their corresponding processing strategies. Subsequently, the recent progress of biodegradable elastomers in different biomedical applications is reviewed. A comprehensive conclusion and outlook pointing out emerging research directions, future challenges and potential solutions complete this work.</span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 101763"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2023-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71507326","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}
Yuhe Zhang , Jiahao Shi , Bin Ma , Ya-Nan Zhou , Haiyang Yong , Jianzhong Li , Xiangyi Kong , Dezhong Zhou
{"title":"Functionalization of polymers for intracellular protein delivery","authors":"Yuhe Zhang , Jiahao Shi , Bin Ma , Ya-Nan Zhou , Haiyang Yong , Jianzhong Li , Xiangyi Kong , Dezhong Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101751","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101751","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span><span>With the growing demand for clinically reliable therapeutics, traditional small molecule drugs are increasingly limited by their short circulation duration, low bioavailability, and poor targeting. Protein drugs, on the other hand, have gained popularity due to their high activity, high specificity, low cytotoxicity, and distinct biological function. Especially, monoclonal antibodies are among the top 10 drugs in global sales. However, protein drugs have limitations such as complex and unstable structure, immune clearance caused by antigen fragments on the surface, and inability to penetrate </span>cell membranes<span>, which severely restrict intracellular delivery. Using carriers can greatly enhance the stability of protein drugs, prevent immune clearance, and facilitate their cellular uptake and cytosolic release. Polymers are commonly used for delivering small molecules, DNA<span>, and RNA. However, developing polymers for protein delivery with high efficiency and low cytotoxicity still faces several challenges, including poor protein binding ability, membrane </span></span></span>impermeability<span>, and low endo/lysosomal escape efficiency. Functionalizing polymers with specific components such as fluorine, boron, guanidine, heterocycles, and multicomponents can improve polymer-protein interaction, cell membrane penetration, endo/lysosomal escape, and biocompatibility. This review provides an overview of strategies for polymer functionalization and their effects on protein delivery. It also discusses trends and challenges in developing polymer carriers for protein delivery.</span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 101751"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"92043526","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}
Tianyi Wang , Lei Zhong , Min Xiao , Dongmei Han , Shuanjin Wang , Zhiheng Huang , Sheng Huang , Luyi Sun , Yuezhong Meng
{"title":"Block copolymer electrolytes for lithium metal batteries: Strategies to boost both ionic conductivity and mechanical strength","authors":"Tianyi Wang , Lei Zhong , Min Xiao , Dongmei Han , Shuanjin Wang , Zhiheng Huang , Sheng Huang , Luyi Sun , Yuezhong Meng","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101743","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101743","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The mechanically hard phase and ionically conductive phase endow suitably designed block copolymer<span><span> electrolytes (BCPEs) with the “Janus” property, thus providing the opportunity to decouple the trade-off between mechanical strength<span> and ionic conductivity by controlling the phase-separated structures. The conductivity of BCPEs is predominantly determined by the molecular structure of block copolymers and the type and concentration of additives, while the manipulation of phase-separated structures helps strengthen their mechanical support and ion transport. This review article presents an overview of BCPEs and focuses on the “molecular structure-phase structure-property” relationship. Ideally, BCPE membranes should have high-throughput and aligned ion transport channels perpendicular to electrodes. First, given the desired attributes of </span></span>polymer electrolytes<span>, i.e., high ionic conductivity, high strength, low thickness, and high limiting current density, we summarize the research status and optimization strategies for BCPEs. Second, we present a summary of methods that control the phase behavior of BCPEs based on the phase separation mechanism. Third, BCPEs are classified into dual-ion conductor and single-ion conductor, whose advantages and disadvantages are analyzed. Furthermore, we propose a design rationale for high-performance quasi-solid-state BCPEs. We elaborate polymerization methods for the regulation of molecular and phase structure. These aspects are believed to collectively contribute to BCPE membranes with both high ion-conductivity and high mechanical strength, further boosting the development of safe and high-energy solid-state lithium metal batteries.</span></span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 101743"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"92043529","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}
Rose Mary Michell , Viko Ladelta , Edgar Da Silva , Alejandro J Müller , Nikos Hadjichristidis
{"title":"Poly(lactic acid) stereocomplexes based molecular architectures: Synthesis and crystallization","authors":"Rose Mary Michell , Viko Ladelta , Edgar Da Silva , Alejandro J Müller , Nikos Hadjichristidis","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101742","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101742","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This review presents the state of the art of complex macromolecular architectures based on polylactide stereocomplexes (PLA-sc) from the viewpoint of synthesis and crystallization. First, we discuss the nomenclature, synthesis, epimerization, and lactide (LA) properties as a bio-derived cyclic dimeric monomer comprising two chiral carbons. Among several polymerization methods, catalytic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) is the most common and versatile technique to access stereoregular (isotactic) PLA, which is the prerequisite to preparing PLA-sc. Combined with other living and controlled/living polymerization techniques, ROP of LA has yielded various PLA-sc-based macromolecular architectures, including copolymers, stars, graft, cyclic, brush, and hybrid materials. New approaches to synthesizing monodisperse discrete oligoLA are also discussed. We show that a small change in the architectures, microstructures, molecular weight, or other chemical and physical modifications affects the behavior of PLA-sc. Moreover, the crystallization of PLA-sc, after more than 30 years of study, still presents many challenges. The crystalline morphology is also a subject of debate. Recent findings suggest a new crystalline unit cell for PLA-sc. Adding a third component or changing chain architecture can significantly modify the properties of the formed PLA-sc. The complex relationship between flexibility, nucleation, diffusion, and the interactions needed for the joint crystallization of the enantiomers constitutes a very large source of variables. As a result, PLA-based stereocomplex materials can be tailored by manipulating one or several of these variables.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 101742"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0079670023000965/pdfft?md5=d4d62c0900307b48435e867d0e06e882&pid=1-s2.0-S0079670023000965-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"92043530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tuan Liu , Bingkun Bao , Yuzhan Li , Qiuning Lin , Linyong Zhu
{"title":"Photo-responsive polymers based on ο-Nitrobenzyl derivatives: from structural design to applications","authors":"Tuan Liu , Bingkun Bao , Yuzhan Li , Qiuning Lin , Linyong Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101741","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101741","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><em>ο</em><span>-Nitrobenzyl (ONB) derivatives are one of the most investigated photo-responsive functional group that features irreversible photolysis under a light stimulus. They are easy to synthesize and display excellent photoactivity, thus have been widely used to construct photo-responsive polymers for numerous applications, such as controlled drug delivery, photodegradable materials, photoinduced micropatterns, etc. This review article is focused on ONB derivatives and their developments in polymer science. The article provides an up-to-date information, including photolysis mechanism, structural design, and materials properties, with a special focus on the application development of ONB derivatives in different areas of polymer science. In addition, the challenges and outlook based on our understanding are also provided. We believe this article will be of interest to the readers from both scientific and industrial communities and will help the readers understand the latest developments in the field, thereby enlightening thoughts for the design of photo-responsive polymers.</span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":413,"journal":{"name":"Progress in Polymer Science","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 101741"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"92043525","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}