New Insights into RAFT Dispersion Polymerization‐Induced Self‐Assembly: From Monomer Library, Morphological Control, and Stability to Driving Forces

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. e1800325 - n/a
• Main Authors: Wang, Xiao, An, Zesheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Addition polymerization; Assembly; Block copolymers; Chain transfer; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic - methods; Control stability; cross‐linking; Dispersion; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Industrial production; Models, Chemical; Molecular Structure; Monomers; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Polymerization; polymerization‐induced self‐assembly; Polymers - chemical synthesis; Polymers - chemistry; RAFT dispersion polymerization; Water - chemistry; block copolymers; polymerization-induced self-assembly; nanoparticles; cross-linking; RAFT dispersion polymerization
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201800325

Polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA) has been established as an efficient, robust, and versatile approach to synthesize various block copolymer nano‐objects with controlled morphologies, tunable dimensions, and diverse functions. The relatively high concentration and potential scalability makes it a promising technique for industrial production and practical applications of functional polymeric nanoparticles. This feature article outlines recent advances in PISA via reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer dispersion polymerization. Considerable efforts to understand morphological control, broaden the monomer library, enhance morphological stability, and incorporate multiple driving forces in PISA syntheses are summarized herein. Finally, perspectives on the future of PISA research are discussed. Polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA), especially via reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer dispersion polymerization, is recognized as an efficient and versatile method to prepare block copolymer nano‐objects with well‐controlled morphologies and intriguing functions. New insights into morphological regulation and control, aqueous PISA formulations, cross‐linking, as well as anisotropic morphologies driven by multiple forces, are discussed in this feature article.