A Global View on Block Copolymers.

Massimo Lazzari,Mercedes Torneiro

doi:10.3390/polym12040869

Abstract

In this systematic review, a total of 45,143 publications on block copolymers, issued between 1952 and 2019, are analyzed in terms of number, source, language, institution, country, keywords, and block copolymer type, to find out their evolution and predict research trends. The number of publications devoted to block copolymers has been growing for over six decades, maintaining a consistent level throughout the last few years. In their majority, documents came out of the United States, although more recently, Chinese institutions are those displaying the largest production. Keywords analysis indicated that one-third of the publications concerned synthesis, around 20% explored self-assembly and morphological aspects, and another 20% referred to block copolymer applications in solution. In particular, 2019 confirmed the expansion of studies related to drug delivery, and in minor extent, to a deeper view of self-assembling. Styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer was the most popular in studies covering both basic and industrially oriented aspects. Other highly investigated copolymers are PEO-b–PPO-b–PEO (Pluronic©) and amphiphilic block copolymers based on polycaprolactone or poly(lactic acid), which owed their success to their potential as delivery vehicles. Future trending topics will concern nanomedicine challenges and technology-related applications, with a special attention toward the orientation and ordering of mesophase-separated morphologies.

Highlights

Block copolymers are a class of polymers formed by two or more homopolymer fragments joined together by covalent bonds
Other highly investigated copolymers are PEO-b–PPO-b–PEO (Pluronic©) and amphiphilic block copolymers based on polycaprolactone or poly(lactic acid), which owed their success to their potential as delivery vehicles
Nowadays, apparently basic considerations on block copolymers are the result of decades of investigations and publications, which had the effect to enable their use as a tool for nanomaterial fabrication, model for behavioral studies, vehicle for drug delivery, additive in photovoltaic cells, precursor for nanocarbons, industrial compatibilizing agent, Polymers 2020, 12, 869; doi:10.3390/polym12040869

Summary

Introduction

Block copolymers are a class of polymers formed by two or more homopolymer fragments joined together by covalent bonds. Due to their usual reciprocal insolubility, the chemically different blocks segregate to form intermolecular phase-separated morphologies either at the solid state or in solution. For block copolymer thin films, additional interactions with the eventual substrate and free interfaces should be considered [2], whereas for the assembling in solution, the formation of differently shaped micelles, lamellar structures, or vesicles depends on solubility parameters, the possible crystallinity of the core-forming block, the addition of further molecular components, etc. For an exhaustive view of such fundamental or applicative topics, the reader will be referred to specialized references throughout this work or may refer to recently published reviews [4,5,6]

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