Amphiphilic well‐defined degradable star block copolymers by combination of ring‐opening polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization: Synthesis and application as drug delivery carriers

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is one of the most popular advanced techniques in macromolecular science, allowing synthesis tailor-made polymers with controlled molecular weight, architecture, composition, and functionality. The combination ATRP ring-opening (ROP) provides a straightforward route for preparation exhibiting both targeted well-defined features biodegradability, which very interesting development new materials biomedical applications. Among different types polymer architectures, amphiphilic star block copolymers (BCPs) represent attractive one, due to their high degree functionality at surface, low hydrodynamic volume higher encapsulation ability, compared systems based on linear polymers. This review article highlights research focused degradable BCPs by ROP ATRP, particular focus applications, such as anticancer drug delivery, diagnosis therapy, or photodynamic investigated field regarding these