Advances in single chain technology

The recent ability to manipulate and visualize single atoms at atomic level has given rise to modern bottom-up nanotechnology. Similar exquisite degree of control at the individual polymeric chain level for producing functional soft nanoentities is expected to become a reality in the next few years...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical Society reviews 2015-01, Vol.44 (17), p.6122-6142
Main Authors: Gonzalez-Burgos, Marina, Latorre-Sanchez, Alejandro, Pomposo, José A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Catalysis
Drug Delivery Systems
Humans
Molecular Imaging - methods
Nanostructures - chemistry
Nanotechnology - methods
Polymers - chemistry
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Summary:The recent ability to manipulate and visualize single atoms at atomic level has given rise to modern bottom-up nanotechnology. Similar exquisite degree of control at the individual polymeric chain level for producing functional soft nanoentities is expected to become a reality in the next few years through the full development of so-called "single chain technology". Ultra-small unimolecular soft nano-objects endowed with useful, autonomous and smart functions are the expected, long-term valuable output of single chain technology. This review covers the recent advances in single chain technology for the construction of soft nano-objects via chain compaction, with an emphasis in dynamic, letter-shaped and compositionally unsymmetrical single rings, complex multi-ring systems, single chain nanoparticles, tadpoles, dumbbells and hairpins, as well as the potential end-use applications of individual soft nano-objects endowed with useful functions in catalysis, sensing, drug delivery and other uses. This review summarizes the recent advances in single chain technology for the construction of soft nano-objects via chain compaction, and their envisioned applications.
ISSN:0306-0012
1460-4744
DOI:10.1039/c5cs00209e