Metallo-supramolecular block copolymer micelles

Supramolecular copolymers have become of increasing interest in recent years in the search for new materials with tunable properties. In particular, metallo-supramolecular block copolymers in which metal-ligand complexes are introduced in block copolymer architectures, have known important progress, allowing better control over the synthetic strategies to prepare varied architectures, and providing a better understanding of the Parameters governing their self-assembly. These metallo-supramolecular block copolymers have been further considered as precursor for micellar assemblies. The introduction of metal-ligand complexes in block copolymer micelles resulted in micellar structures with unique and unprecedented structures and properties. We review here recent developments achieved in the development of such metallo-supramolecular block copolymer micelles. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.