Dynamic covalent single chain nanoparticles based on hetero Diels–Alder chemistry

Abstract

We introduce the fully reversible folding of single chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) based on covalent hetero Diels-Alder (HDA) chemistry. A cyclopentadiene (Cp)-protected cyanodithioester (CDTE) monomer is designed and copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) via RAFT polymerization. The polymer chains are folded and subsequently unfolded by exploiting the reversible nature of the HDA reaction.