Macrocycles-assisted Polymeric Self-Assemblies Fabricated by Host−Guest Complexation and Their Applications

Macrocycles are exhibiting unique features with prospective applications owing to their inherent structural features combined with rigidity and functionality. Developing macrocycles-assisted polymeric self-assemblies (MPs) is one of the promising ways to convert macrocyclic polymers into functional materials with responsiveness, which enabling them with realistic features, such as self-healing, good processability, and recyclability. The present review focusses on rational design of MPs with their realistic potenital applications over the recent past decade. The constructions of MPs mainly focuses on the following facets: i) those assembled from macrocyclic side-chain polymeric hosts interacting with the small molecular/polymeric organic and inorganic guests, and ii) those assembled from macrocyclic monomers interacting with the side-chain polymeric guests. These resultant MPs include dynamic cross-linkage of different copolymeric hosts and/or guests, which further leads to the formation of supramolecular self-assembled nanomaterials with unique functionalities. In addition, we have also discussed about the fabrication of stimuli-responsive MPs that are influenced by various external stimuli, and the resultant supramolecular host−guest complexations mediated reversible self-assemblies are also highlighted. Furthermore, a wide range of applications of MPs, including self-healing materials, adhesives, adsorbents, drug delivery, and smart windows, and their modes of assemblies are elaborately presented. This review summarizes the fundamental design concepts in the fabrications of polymeric backbone assisted MPs, which provides new directions for future research in the field of supramolecular chemistry and materials chemistry.