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Hierarchical Assemblies of Polymer Particles through Tailored Interfaces and Controllable Interfacial Interactions
Author(s) -
Visaveliya Nikunjkumar R.,
Köhler Johann Michael
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202007407
Subject(s) - materials science , polymer , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , surface modification , self assembly , layer (electronics) , polyelectrolyte , microfluidics , layer by layer , macromolecule , chemical engineering , composite material , chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Hierarchical assembly architectures of functional polymer particles are promising because of their physicochemical and surface properties for multi‐labeling and sensing to catalysis and biomedical applications. While polymer nanoparticles’ interior is mainly made up of the cross‐linked network, their surface can be tailored with soft, flexible, and responsive molecules and macromolecules as potential support for the controlled particulate assemblies. Molecular surfactants and polyelectrolytes as interfacial agents improve the stability of the nanoparticles whereas swellable and soft shell‐like cross‐linked polymeric layer at the interface can significantly enhance the uptake of guest nano‐constituents during assemblies. Besides, layer‐by‐layer surface‐functionalization holds the ability to provide a high variability in assembly architectures of different interfacial properties. Considering these aspects, various assembly architectures of polymer nanoparticles of tunable size, shapes, morphology, and tailored interfaces together with controllable interfacial interactions are constructed here. The microfluidic‐mediated platform has been used for the synthesis of constituents polymer nanoparticles of various structural and interfacial properties, and their assemblies are conducted in batch or flow conditions. The assemblies presented in this progress report is divided into three main categories: cross‐linked polymeric network's fusion‐based self‐assembly, electrostatic‐driven assemblies, and assembly formed by encapsulating smaller nanoparticles into larger microparticles.