Themed collection Pioneering Investigators

This themed issue of Polymer Chemistry highlights the work of pioneering investigators in the polymer chemistry field. Associate Editors Emily Pentzer and Eva Harth introduce the issue.

Ring-expansion cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers with a hemiacetal ester-embedded cyclic initiator allows precise syntheses of ring-based architectures due to the controlled propagation as well as the monomer pendant design.

Application of 3D multicellular tumor spheroids to the investigation of polymer nanomedicines.

Dual RDRP agents provide access to new polymeric materials by combining ATRP, NMP, and RAFT polymerization without end group transformations.

A simple synthetic pathway to broaden the accessibility of thiol-functional polymers including formation of dendritic hydrogels via TEC chemistry.

Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) provides nanofibers that may be used as reinforcing fillers for all-organic aqueous coatings.

Sequence-defined oligourethanes were transformed into ATRP initiators and used for the synthesis of precision macromolecular architectures.

We report nanoassemblies based on block copolymers of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) in which drug cleavage enhances the biological compatibility of the original polymer carrier by regeneration of HPMA units.

A first example of controlled radical polymerization of monomers containing unprotected acyl hydrazide pendent groups was demonstrated using aqueous RAFT polymerization at pH = 0.

Silicones bulk-modified with various PEO-silane amphiphiles were demonstrated to be resistant to plasma proteins, several bacteria, and a fungus.

This work reports the straightforward synthesis of molecular brushes by telomerization from polythiol multifunctional macrotransfer agents.

A covalent anti-fouling is introduced at the surface of supramolecular ureidopyrimidinone (UPy) based materials to prevent both protein and cell adhesion.

In this study, we show for the first time enzyme-directed assembly of intravenously (IV) delivered nanoparticles in ischemic skeletal muscle, which has applications for drug delivery to damaged muscle of the type prevalent in peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Self-assembly of PDMAEMA-b-PVDF block copolymers.

An alkyl-substituted indacenodithiophene-based donor–acceptor π-conjugated polymer (PIDTBPD) with low stiffness and high ductility is reported.

Conjugated polymer pseudocapacitors achieve high capacitances because they store charge through fast, reversible redox reactions.

A switchable polymeric ¹⁹F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent was synthesised whereby the transverse (T₂) relaxation times increased as a therapeutic was released from a hyperbranched polymer (HBP) scaffold.

Cladribine (CdA)-based polymer prodrug nanoparticles were obtained by “drug-initiated” RAFT polymerization of squalenyl methacrylate (SqMA) from two different CdA-bearing chain transfer agents (CTAs) to evaluate the influence of the nature of the linkage between CdA and the CTA, and the bulkiness of the polymer, on the drug release and the biological performance.

Amphiphilic gradient copolymers with thermoresponsive properties were synthesized in one pot via RAFT copolymerization.

Poly(sulfur-random-styrene) was made via inverse vulcanization and used for dynamic covalent copolymerization (DCP) to incorporate novel vinylic monomers.

Hollow nanocapsules were constructed using a sacrificial silica scaffold to produce novel oil remediation agents.

Photocurable norbornene-functionalized poly(glycerol sebacate) (Nor-PGS) has been developed to fabricate cytocompatible, biodegradable and elastomeric scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.

We report the synthesis and detailed characterization of a series of ionic polyurethanes issued from the polyaddition of a 1,2,3-triazolium-functionalized diol monomer having a bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide counter-anion with four aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic commercial diisocyanates.

The current study reports on the kinetic analysis of the free-radical polymerization of several seven-membered cyclic ketene acetal monomers.

Unravelling the mechanism of Pickering emulsion polymerization using silica nanoparticles as the stabilizer.

We describe a method to fold single polymer chains into nanoparticles using simple thermal Diels–Alder (DA) chemistry.

The properties of polymeric materials can be amplified by macromolecular alignment.

Double-decker dinickel catalysts, even without any substituent on an ortho-position, afforded high molecular weight polyethylene with high crystallinity and less branching.

The synthesis of aliphatic polycarbonates with a tuneable thermal-response is reported by a ‘click-and mix’ approach.

Water-degradable polyvinyl acetals with high glass transition temperatures (114–157 °C) were made via acetalization of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with bioaromatic aldehydes.

Well-defined N,N′-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DMAEA) functionalized polymeric stars have been synthesized via an arm-first approach.

A self-healing hydrogel has been used as the anti-tumor drug carrier to improve the chemotherapy effect.

One-shot control of comonomer sequence distributions was demonstrated by dual radical and cationic copolymerization using RAFT mediator.

Shape memory foams have been prepared using a heparin-inspired polyurea/urethane that displays excellent resistance to platelet adherence.

A benchtop approach is developed for the synthesis of various polymeric architectures using an aqueous Reversible Addition–Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) photopolymerization technique.

Physical encapsulation of hydrophobic compounds into nanocarriers that are stable in aqueous medium is of high interest as it can increase solubilization of the drug, lower its toxicity, control its pharmacokinetic profile and thus overall improve the therapeutic efficacy.