Thermoresponsive and Fluorescent Polymers: From Nanothermometers to Smart Drug Delivery Systems for Theranostics...

This mini-review article is focused on polymeric materials that comprise thermoresponsive and fluorescent organic units. The combination of fluorescent clusters/dots embedded in or grafted with polymers is not considered in this article. Here we review the preparation, characterization, and application of thermoresponsive polymers functionalized covalently with organic fluorescent compounds either compartmentalized or randomly distributed: block-copolymers, self-assembled micelles or vesicles, core-shell nanogels, and their temperature driven self-assembly/shrinkage/expansion and resulting effect in fluorescence: quenching, enhancing, shifting. The applications suggested for these smart-materials are reviewed in the last ten years and range from nanothermometers, drug delivery systems, agents for bioimaging, sensors, and advanced materials for theranostics focused on cancer treatment. This article is organized reviewing the preparation methods, the main characterization techniques, and the application, depending on polymer architecture and the emission wavelength of the fluorophores. Finally, comments, suggestions, and problems to be solved for the advancement of these materials in the future prior to real-life applications are given.