Nanogel star polymer architectures: a nanoparticle platform for modular programmable macromolecular self-assembly, intercellular transport, and dual-mode cargo delivery.

Alternatively, star polymers (unimolecular, globular, polymer architectures) are an increasingly attractive class of organic nanoparticles for biomedical research purposes. [ 16–18 ] Although topographically similar to dendrimers (i.e., a high local density of polymeric arms, surface functionality, and interstitial regions), they lack the synthetic and structural limitations of dendrimers [ 19 , 20 ] and the dynamic instability of micelles [ 21 ] and liposomes. [ 22 ] Nanogel star polymers, i.e., those with polymer “arms” emanating from a cross-linked polymer core, [ 23 , 24 ] in particular, offer a potential for variation in nanoparticle structure and surface functional, i.e., arm density but are among the most synthetically demanding of polymeric nanostructures to develop. [ 25–29 ]