Controlling Nanomaterial Size and Shape for Biomedical Applications via Polymerization‐Induced Self‐Assembly

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. e1800438 - n/a
• Main Authors: Khor, Song Yang, Quinn, John F., Whittaker, Michael R., Truong, Nghia P., Davis, Thomas P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Assembly; biomedical applications; Biomedical materials; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic - methods; Cryopreservation; Degree of polymerization; Diagnostic Imaging - methods; dispersion polymerization; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; Dynamic Light Scattering; emulsion polymerization; Medical imaging; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Monomers; Morphology; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanoparticles - ultrastructure; Nanostructures - chemistry; Nanostructures - ultrastructure; Particle Size; Polymerization; polymerization‐induced self‐assembly; Polymers; Polymers - chemical synthesis; Polymers - chemistry; reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer; Tissue culture; emulsion polymerization; polymerization-induced self-assembly; reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer; dispersion polymerization; biomedical applications
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201800438

Rapid developments in the polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA) technique have paved the way for the environmentally friendly production of nanoparticles with tunable size and shape for a diverse range of applications. In this feature article, the biomedical applications of PISA nanoparticles and the substantial progress made in controlling their size and shape are highlighted. In addition to early investigations into drug delivery, applications such as medical imaging, tissue culture, and blood cryopreservation are also described. Various parameters for controlling the morphology of PISA nanoparticles are discussed, including the degree of polymerization of the macro‐CTA and core‐forming polymers, the concentration of macro‐CTA and core‐forming monomers, the solid content of the final products, the solution pH, the thermoresponsitivity of the macro‐CTA, the macro‐CTA end group, and the initiator concentration. Finally, several limitations and challenges for the PISA technique that have been recently addressed, along with those that will require further efforts into the future, will be highlighted. Polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA) is a robust technique for obtaining concentrated solutions of polymeric nanoparticles with controlled sizes and shapes. This feature article provides readers with an update of the chemistry used to control the physicochemical properties of PISA nanoparticles and recent biomedical applications of these nanomaterials.