Poly(vinylpyridine)-containing block copolymers for smart, multicompartment particles

Multicompartment particles generated by the self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) have received considerable attention due to their unique morphologies and functionalities. A class of important building blocks for multicomponent particles are polyvinylpyridines (PVPs), which are employed due to their stimuli-responsiveness and ability to incorporate functional additives. This review highlights preparation strategies, properties, and applications of multicompartment particles based on PVP-containing BCPs. Core functionalities of PVPs and PVP-containing BCPs are introduced, followed by their self-assembly strategies to prepare multicompartment particles with diverse structures. Detailed examples covering the properties and applications of PVP-containing multicompartment particles are also summarized, including responsive shape-changing particles and polymer/inorganic hybrid nanostructures with tunable physical and optical properties. Lastly, the remaining challenges and perspectives of the field are discussed.