title: Cross-Linking Induced Self-Organization of Polymers into Degradable Assemblies.
abstract: Covalently stabilized polymer assemblies are normally fabricated from the self-assembly of polymer chains followed by a cross-linking reaction. In this report, we show that a cross-linking-induced self-assembly approach, in which boronate cross-linking sites are formed by the condensation reaction between boronic and catechol groups, can organize polymer networks into uniform assemblies. Self-assembly of these boronate cross-linked polymer networks adopts two different driving forces in water and methanol solutions. Hydrophobic aggregation of polymer networks in water solution affords spherical assemblies, while B-N dative bond formed between boronate and imine functionalities in methanol solution organizes the polymer networks into bundle-like assemblies. We not only demonstrate the intrinsic stimuli-responsive degradability of these cross-linked assemblies but also show that their degradation can cause a controllable release of guest molecules. Moreover, bundle-like assemblies with rough surface and exposed boronate functionalities exhibit dramatically higher cell penetration capability than the spherical assemblies with smooth surface and embedded boronate functionalities.
authors.affiliation: College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.|Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
authors.forename: Conghui
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0126-7236
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.|Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
authors.forename: Bihong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.|Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.|Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.|Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.|Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
authors.forename: Yiting
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.|Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
authors.forename: Birong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.|Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
authors.forename: Weiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: INSA de Lyon, IMP, Villeurbanne F-69621, France.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gérard
authors.affiliation: College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.|Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, College of Materials, Xiamen University , Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
authors.forename: Lizong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dai
keywords: cell uptake; cross-linking polymers; degradation; self-assembly; stimuli-response