Polymeric Bowl-Shaped Nanoparticles: Hollow Structures with a Large Opening on the Surface

Polymeric bowl-shaped nanoparticles (BNPs) are anisotropic hollow structures with large openings on the surface, which have shown advantages such as high specific area and efficient encapsulation, delivery and release of large-sized cargoes on demand compared to solid nanoparticles or closed hollow structures. Several strategies have been developed to prepare BNPs based on either template or template-free methods. For instance, despite the widely used self-assembly strategy, alternative methods including emulsion polymerization, swelling and freeze-drying of polymeric spheres, and template-assisted approaches have also been developed. It is attractive but still challenging to fabricate BNPs due to their unique structural features. However, there is still no comprehensive summary of BNPs up to now, which significantly hinders the further development of this field. In this review, the recent progress of BNPs will be highlighted from the perspectives of design strategies, preparation methods, formation mechanisms, and emerging applications. Moreover, the future perspectives of BNPs will also be proposed.

Perfluorocyclobutyl-containing transparent polyimides with low dielectric constant and low dielectric loss

The combination of loose chain packing and high fluoro content endows PFCB-containing polyimides with excellent optical transparency and dielectric properties.

Ring-Forming Polymerization toward Perfluorocyclobutyl and Ortho-Diynylarene-Derived Materials: From Synthesis to Practical Applications

Many desirable characteristics of polymers arise from the method of polymerization and structural features of their repeat units, which typically are responsible for the polymer’s performance at the cost of processability. While linear alternatives are popular, polymers composed of cyclic repeat units across their backbones have generally been shown to exhibit higher optical transparency, lower water absorption, and higher glass transition temperatures. These specifically include polymers built with either substituted alicyclic structures or aromatic rings, or both. In this review article, we highlight two useful ring-forming polymer groups, perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether polymers and ortho-diynylarene- (ODA) based thermosets, both demonstrating outstanding thermal stability, chemical resistance, mechanical integrity, and improved processability. Different synthetic routes (with emphasis on ring-forming polymerization) and properties for these polymers are discussed, followed by their relevant applications in a wide range of aspects.

Solution self-assembly of fluorinated polymers, an overview

The incorporation of fluorinated moieties into a polymer can confer unique properties and often lead in solution to original morphologies endowed with rare properties.

Vesicular assemblies of thermoresponsive amphiphilic polypeptide copolymers for guest encapsulation and release

Thermoresponsive amphiphilic polypeptide copolymers are synthesized via different polymerization techniques for their self-assembly into vesicular aggregates for guest encapsulation and release.

First double hydrophilic graft copolymer bearing a poly(2-hydroxylethyl acrylate) backbone synthesized by sequential RAFT polymerization and SET-LRP

This article reports the first synthesis of well-defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers with a PHEA backbone, by the combination of RAFT polymerization, SET-LRP, and a grafting-from strategy.

Hairy cylinders based on a coil-comb-coil copolymer

We present the preparation and possible formation mechanism of hairy cylinders self-assembled from a coil-comb-coil copolymer.

Synthesis of amphiphilic nanoparticles and multi-block hydrophilic copolymers by a facile and effective “living” radical polymerization in water

A convenient and robust approach using MANDC-COOH as the initiator and oxidatively stable Cu(OAc)₂as the catalyst to synthesize amphiphilic nanoparticles and hydrophilic multi-block copolymers was successfully developed in water.

One-pot synthesis of hyperstar polymers via sequential ATRP of inimers and functional monomers in aqueous dispersed media

A one-pot synthesis was reported to produce hyperstar polymers with high molecular weight, low polydispersity and no detectable star coupling reactions.