Spherical polymer micelles: nanosized reaction vessels?

Supramolecular self-assembly techniques have provided a versatile means by which to selectively assemble polymeric molecules into well-defined three-dimensional nanostructures. The stabilization and tailoring of these dynamic nanostructures can be achieved using a range of chemistries to afford functional robust nanoparticles. Many examples of the stabilization, functionalization and application of these nanoparticles have been reported in the literature, and this paper will focus on these areas in the context of their potential application as nanometre-sized reaction vessels.