Amphiphilic Polymer Co-networks

The invention of living anionic polymerization in 1956 stands as a landmark achievement in polymer science.  The impact of this discovery was profound and was followed by the development of quasi-living carbocationic polymerization, group transfer polymerization and the various forms of controlled radical polymerization.  Together, these methods enabled the facile synthesis and subsequent property characterization of a wide range of macromolecular architectures and block copolymers.  An interesting class of well-defined polymers includes cross-linked segmented amphiphilic polymer co-networks (APCNs).  These systems are based on hydrophilic copolymers which contain one or more hydrophobic segments that are able to micellize in an aqueous environment under the constraints of the cross-links.  Contemporary silicone-based soft contact lenses represent the best-known application of APCNs with a large and growing market world-wide driven by superior performance based on the APCN structure.  Unique features of APCN include microphase separation, a reduction in aqueous swelling and an enhancement of the mechanical properties when swollen in water.  This novel interplay of structure, property and function forms the subject matter for this Royal Society of Chemistry book edited by Costas S. Patrickios entitled “Amphiphilic Polymer Co-networks: Synthesis, Properties, Modelling and Applications”. I recommend this book to professionals working in polymers and materials science and engineering, but also to advanced undergraduates and graduate students in chemistry, chemical, biological or materials engineering who are looking for a firm grounding in polymer science.  Long-awaited, this comprehensive text hosts contributions from 14 international collections of authors representing 12 countries with chapters grouped into the four sections, synthesis, properties, modelling and applications.

* Personal Review *

The volume “Amphiphilic Polymer Co-networks” edited by C. S. Patrickios and with a foreword by J. P. Kennedy provides an overview of the progress and developments in the field of APCN over the last decade.  After a concise historical overview and outlook by the editor, the first section of the book reviews the work of three leading research groups on the synthesis and characterisation of APCNs.  The next section covers various approaches for preparing APCNs, focusing on their physical properties.  The types of networks discussed include micelle-crosslinked gels, double network gels and end-linked four-arm star gels, among others.  A single chapter on modelling by F. Schmid gives a succinct overview of some theoretical aspects relevant to modelling APCNs, including the phase behaviour of block copolymer melts and those of randomly and regularly cross-linked networks.  The fourth and last section of the book is dedicated to the various fields of application of APCNs.  These include their uses as functional and smart membranes with, for example, temperature, light or pH sensitivity, and their applications in bio-catalysis in organic media.  A short chapter by S. Diamanti gives a historical overview of the design and manufacture of contact lenses, where APCNs find their most widely employed application at present.  Without directly addressing applications, G. G. Qiao and co-workers provide an extensive and highly readable overview of the challenges and opportunities for improving the mechanical properties of amphiphilic polymer co-networks, an issue that is perhaps the most pressing challenge to improving the performance of APCNs (and hydrogels in general). Several of the approaches reviewed are also treated individually in other chapters.

While the scope of the volume is primarily experimental research, the chapter exclusively dedicated to modelling helps outline some of the theoretical concepts needed to understand the phase behaviour of APCNs.  Relevant experimental techniques including small-angle scattering or force-extension measurements are touched upon throughout the book, providing the reader a short introduction to these methods.  Likewise, important subjects such as controlled-release (a major application of APCNs) are dealt with in various chapters.  Overall, the book succeeds in highlighting many areas of interest and challenges in amphiphilic polymer co-networks, and it serves as a good starting point to chemists and chemical engineers interested in this field.

* Personal Review *

I recommend this book to professionals working in polymers and materials science and engineering, but also to advanced undergraduates and graduate students in chemistry, chemical, biological or materials engineering who are looking for a firm grounding in polymer science.

* Personal Review *

The book [Amphiphilic Polymer Co-networks] is the first book integrating the most relevant information on the topic and is highly recommended for scientists and engineers interested in the development of new soft materials.

* 10.1002/anie.202006776 *

Overall, the book succeeds in highlighting many areas of interest and challenges in amphiphilic polymer co-networks, and it serves as a good starting point to chemists and chemical engineers interested in this field.

* Personal Revi