Hairy Core–Shell Polymer Nano-objects from Self-Assembled Block Copolymer Structures

Fabrication of core-shell polymer nano-objects with well-defined shape and hairy shell has been a subject of immense interest in polymer chemistry for more than two decades now. Different approaches such as those involving synthesis (grafting approaches) and block copolymer self-assembly (solution as well as bulk) have been used for the preparation of such nano-objects. Of these approaches that involving bulk self-assembled structures of block copolymers have been of special interest because of the simplicity and range of shape and structures possible. The present review focuses on the advances which have been made in this direction using diblock and triblock self-assembled structures. It will be shown that this approach allows to fabricate hairy nano-objects of not only simple shapes such as spheres, rods, and sheets but also those with more complex shape and morphology such as multicompartment micelles, which are not possible to obtain with synthetic or solution self-assembly approaches. Furthermore, interesting structures such as Janus nano-objects could also be fabricated using this approach. The review further highlights the use of such nano-objects for templating applications.