Amphiphilic micro? and nanogels: Combining properties from internal hydrogel networks, solid particles, and micellar aggregates

Polymeric micro- and nanogels are defined by their water-swollen hydrophilic networks that can often impart outstanding biocompatibility high-colloidal stability. Unfortunately, this highly nature limits potential in areas where hydrophobic or amphiphilic interactions required, for example, the delivery of cargoes tailored with amphipathic (bio-)surfaces. To overcome limitation, micro?/nanogels emerging as new colloidal materials combine properties from hydrogel segments, known solid polymer particles micellar cores. The ability to accurately adjust balance components such systems enables properties. This opens up applications ranging controlled sustained drugs, over carriers catalytic moieties, assembly at hydrophilic/hydrophobic interfaces, advanced stabilizers Pickering emulsions. While promising, synthetic realization remains challenging since moieties need be combined a single system. As result, adjusting micro?/nanogel amphiphilicity changes features too. these limitations, various strategies have been reported. aim review is give brief overview important tools, considering both advantages disadvantages, thus critically evaluating different research fields.