Fluorinated polymer self-assembled nanomaterials: advances and biomedical applications

Fluorinated polymers have emerged as a versatile class of materials for biomedical nanotechnology applications, owing to their unique physicochemical properties conferred by fluorination. The strong C-F bond, high hydrophobicity, low surface energy, and ability to modulate intermolecular interactions collectively endow self-assembled nanomaterials with enhanced stability, biocompatibility, and functional versatility. Over the past few decades, diverse fluorinated self-assembled architectures, including micelles, vesicles, liposomes, nanoparticles, and hydrogels, have been engineered for applications in drug delivery, gene therapy, bioimaging, antimicrobial therapy, tissue engineering, ophthalmology, and tissue bionics. Fluorination enables precise control over nanostructure assembly, improves barrier penetration, prolongs systemic circulation, enhances oxygen-carrying capacity, and supports imaging modalities. Moreover, tailored designs leverage fluorine's ability to resist protein adsorption, evade immune clearance, and promote targeted therapeutic effects under complex physiological conditions, including hypoxia and mucosal barriers. This review systematically discusses the structural characteristics, biomedical applications, and recent innovations in fluorinated polymer self-assembled nanomaterials, highlighting challenges such as potential environmental persistence and offering perspectives for sustainable development.