CHAPTER 7: Supramolecular (Miktoarm) Star Polymers: Self-Assembly and Applications

In the present chapter, the formation of star and miktoarm star polymers via supramolecular interactions is presented. Star polymers formed via supramolecular chemistry are endowed with a couple of notable properties that motivate significant interest in their synthesis, e.g. reversibility, stimulus-response, orthogonality, and dynamics. Moreover, several applications are envisaged for supramolecular star polymers, e.g., drug delivery. The most common supramolecular motifs in polymer science and the orthogonality of supramolecular associations are discussed. Furthermore, in the main section, star and miktoarm star polymer based on various supramolecular interactions are reviewed, e.g. hydrogen bonding, inclusion complexes, and metal complexation. A broad variety of (miktoarm) star polymers are covered with respect to the polymer architecture, polymer composition, and properties, e.g. complex star architectures, hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymers and their combinations, and stimulus-responsive materials.