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.

Synthesis of 19F MRI Nanotracers by Dispersion Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly of N-(2,2,2-Trifluoroethyl)acrylamide in Water

19F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using fluoropolymer tracers has recently emerged as a promising, non-invasive diagnostic tool in modern medicine. However, despite its potential, 19F MRI remains overlooked and underused due to the limited availability or unfavorable properties of fluorinated tracers. Herein, we report a straightforward synthetic route to highly fluorinated 19F MRI nanotracers via aqueous dispersion polymerization-induced self-assembly of a water-soluble fluorinated monomer. A polyethylene glycol-based macromolecular chain-transfer agent was extended by RAFT-mediated N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)acrylamide (TFEAM) polymerization in water, providing fluorine-rich self-assembled nanoparticles in a single step. The resulting nanoparticles had different morphologies and sizes ranging from 60 to 220 nm. After optimizing their structure to maximize the magnetic relaxation of the fluorinated core, we obtained a strong 19F NMR/MRI signal in an aqueous environment. Their non-toxicity was confirmed on primary human dermal fibroblasts. Moreover, we visualized the nanoparticles by 19F MRI, both in vitro (in aqueous phantoms) and in vivo (after subcutaneous injection in mice), thus confirming their biomedical potential.

End-functionalized polymers by controlled/living radical polymerizations: synthesis and applications

This review focuses on end-functionalized polymers synthesized by controlled/living radical polymerizations and the applications in fields including bioconjugate formation, surface modification, topology construction, and self-assembly.

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.

Construction of well-defined difluoromethylthio-containing amphiphilic homopolymers by RAFT polymerization

A well-defined difluoromethylthio-containing amphiphilic homopolymer with a lower T_g was obtained by RAFT polymerization.

Perfluorocyclobutyl Aryl Ether-Based ABC Amphiphilic Triblock Copolymer

A series of fluorine-containing amphiphilic ABC triblock copolymers comprising hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), and hydrophobic poly(p-(2-(4-biphenyl)perfluorocyclobutoxy)phenyl methacrylate) (PBPFCBPMA) segments were synthesized by successive atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). First, PEG-Br macroinitiators bearing one terminal ATRP initiating group were prepared by chain-end modification of monohydroxy-terminated PEG via esterification reaction. PEG-b-PBPFCBPMA-Br diblock copolymers were then synthesized via ATRP of BPFCBPMA monomer initiated by PEG-Br macroinitiator. ATRP polymerization of tert-butyl methacrylate (tBMA) was directly initiated by PEG-b-PBPFCBPMA-Br to provide PEG-b-PBPFCBPMA-b-PtBMA triblock copolymers with relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.43). The pendant tert-butyoxycarbonyls were hydrolyzed to carboxyls in acidic environment without affecting other functional groups for affording PEG-b-PBPFCBPMA-b-PMAA amphiphilic triblock copolymers. The critical micelle concentrations (cmc) were determined by fluorescence spectroscopy using N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine as probe and the self-assembly behavior in aqueous media were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Large compound micelles and bowl-shaped micelles were formed in neutral aqueous solution. Interestingly, large compound micelles formed by triblock copolymers can separately or simultaneously encapsulate hydrophilic Rhodamine 6G and hydrophobic pyrene agents.

PDEAEMA-based pH-sensitive amphiphilic pentablock copolymers for controlled anticancer drug delivery

The synthesis of a series of PDEAEMA-based pH-sensitive amphiphilic pentablock copolymers PEG-b-(PDEAEMA-b-PMMA)₂ with different compositions proceeded via the combination of a bromination reaction andARGET ATRP.

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.