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Crosslinked polymer nanocapsules (CPNCs) are hollowed nanoparticles with network-like polymeric shells stabilized by primary bonds. CPNCs have drawn broad and significant interests as nanocarriers for biomedical applications in recent years. As compared with conventional polymeric nanoparticles systems without cavity and/or crosslinking architectures, CPNCs possess significant biomedical relevant advantages, including (a) superior structural stability against environmental conditions, (b) high loading capacity and ability for region-specific loading of multiple cargos, (c) tuneable cargo release rate via crosslinking density, and (d) high specific surface area to facilitate surface adsorption, modification, and interactions. With appropriate base polymers and crosslinkages, CPNCs can be biocompatible and biodegradable. While CPNCbased biomedical nanoplatforms can possess relatively stable physicochemical properties owing to their crosslinked architectures, various biomedically relevant stimuli-responsivities can be incorporated with them through specific structural designs. CPNCs have been studied for the delivery of small molecule drugs, genes, proteins, and other therapeutic agents. They have also been investigated as diagnostic platforms for magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging, and optical imaging. Moreover, CPNCs have been utilized to carry both therapeutics and bioimaging agents for theranostic applications. This article reviews the therapeutic, diagnostic and theranostic applications of CPNCs, as well as the preparation of these CPNCs, reported in the past decade.

Herein, the design, synthesis,and characterization of an unprecedented copolymer consisting of alternating linear and dendritic segments is described. First, a4 th-generation Hawker-type dendron with two azide groups was synthesized, followed by as tep-growth azide-alkyne "click"r eaction between the 4th-generation diazido dendron and poly(ethylene glycol) diacetylene to create the target polymers.U nequal reactivity of the functional groups was observed in the stepgrowth polymerization. The resulting copolymers,w ith alternating hydrophilic linear and hydrophobic dendritic segments, can spontaneously associate into aunique type of microphasesegregated nanorods in water.