What Is Next in Single-Chain Nanoparticles?

Abstract

With the increasing appeal of nanotechnology, there is a demand for development of synthetic techniques for the fabrication of nanosized objects that allow for precise size control and tailored functionalization. To this end, the collapse or folding of single polymer chains into architecturally defined nanostructures is a rapidly growing research topic in polymer science. Many synthetic approaches have been developed for the formation of single-chain nanoparticles (SCNP), and a variety of characterization methods and computational efforts have been utilized to detail their formation and probe their morphological characteristics. Interest in this field continues to grow partially due to the variety of potential applications of SCNP including catalysis, sensors, nanoreactors, and nanomedicine. While numerous developments have been made, the field is continuing to evolve, and there are still many unanswered questions regarding synthesis and characterization of SCNP. This Perspective serves to identify recent accomplishments in the synthesis and characterization of SCNP while distinguishing areas that are in need of advancement and innovation to move forward. This includes exploring more complex synthetic strategies, obtaining folding control, employing nanoparticle functionalization, developing scalable methods, investigating hierarchical self-assembly of SCNP, and exploiting unique characterization techniques and in-depth simulations.

Synthesis and functionalization of dextran-based single-chain nanoparticles in aqueous media

“…[2][3][4] SCPNs based on synthetic polymers benefit from the possibility of a controlled construction of the precursors in order to prepare tuned SCPNs with desired size and functionality.3 Additionally, a wide variety of biocompatible, non-toxic and ready-to-use natural polymers are available. Consequently, SCPNs have gained interest as potential mimetics of biomacromolecules such as proteins 5,6 and for application in different fields including nanomedicine.…”

“…At different time points (1,3,24,48, 72 and 144 h) samples were withdrawn and the amount of radioactivity was measured. The 67Ga-radiolabelled SCPNs were filtered, washed twice with ultrapure water, and the amount of radioactivity in the filter and the filtrate/washings was measured.…”

Synthesis of Sequence-Controlled Multiblock Single Chain Nanoparticles by a Stepwise Folding–Chain Extension–Folding Process

“…[5][6][7] Inspired by this model of biopolymers, folding a single linear polymer chain into a single chain nanoparticle (SCNP) has been recognized as a robust strategy for the construction of biopolymeric nanoparticles with potential applications in catalysis, sensing or biotechnology. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Although the design and synthesis of single chain objects has recently received great attention, 15 the development in this field is still in its initial phase. So far, several types of strategies to mediate the single chain collapse to form SCNPs have been explored, [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] ranging from hydrogen bonding, 23-27, 10, 28-31 covalent bonding, [32][33][34][35][36] to dynamic covalent bonding.…”

Tunable slow dynamics in a new class of soft colloids

“…In order to engineering functional soft nanomaterials that closely mimic biomolecules in structure and behaviour, a paradigm in polymer synthesis involves handling single polymer chains 1 . Among the various techniques employed to these ends, the collapse of single polymer chains (precursors) via purely intramolecular cross-linking, into single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs), has gained increasing interest over recent years [2][3][4][5] . Significant effort is being devoted to endow SCNPs with useful functions for multiple applications in, e.g., nanomedicine, biosensing, bioimaging or catalysis [6][7][8][9][10] .…”