Macrocycles-assisted polymeric self-assemblies fabricated by host–guest complexation and their applications

Abstract

Macrocycles exhibit unique features with prospective applications due to their inherent structural features combined with rigidity and functionality. Developing macrocycles-assisted polymeric self-assemblies (MPs) is one of the promising ways to convert macrocyclic polymers into functional materials with responsiveness, endowing them with realistic features such as self-healing, good processability, and recyclability. The present review focuses on the rational design of MPs, over the past decade, with realistic potential applications. The constructions of MPs mainly focuses on the following facets: (i) those assembled from macrocyclic side-chain polymeric hosts interacting with small molecular/polymeric organic and inorganic guests, and (ii) those assembled from macrocyclic monomers interacting with side-chain polymeric guests. These resultant MPs include the dynamic cross-linking of different copolymeric hosts and/or guests, which further leads to the formation of supramolecular self-assembled nanomaterials with unique functionalities. We also discuss the fabrication of stimuli-responsive MPs that are influenced by various external stimuli, and the resultant supramolecular host–guest complexation-mediated reversible self-assemblies are also highlighted. Furthermore, a wide range of applications of MPs, including self-healing materials, adhesives, adsorbents, drug delivery, and smart windows, and their modes of assemblies are elaborately presented. As far as we know, this is the first review particularly focusing on the side-chain polymeric host–guest interactions and their self-assemblies for diverse applications, whereas linear polymers and post-polymerizations are not included. This review summarizes the fundamental design concepts in the fabrication of polymeric backbone-assisted MPs, which provides new directions for future research in the field of supramolecular chemistry and materials chemistry.