title: Development of star polymers as unimolecular containers for nanomaterials.
abstract: Star polymers containing one central core surrounded by multiple radiating arms represent an intriguing type of globular platform to be used as unimolecular containers and reactors. The core domain can encapsulate guest "cargos", whereas protective shell and chain ends can be functionalized with reactive groups and ligands. This Feature Article highlights the recent development on using core-shell structured amphiphilic star polymers as unimolecular containers for applications in drug delivery, catalysis, and template of hybrid nanomaterials. As compared with dendrimers, star polymers enjoy advantages of facile synthesis, flexible compositions, and tunable sizes, which allow them being able to carry more and multiple "cargos" within one molecule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 365 Stepan Chemistry Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA. hgao@nd.edu
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D057930:Click Chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D053769:Nanocapsules; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents; D013501:Surface-Active Agents