In situ polymerization

[1] There are several advantages of the in situ polymerization process, which include the use of cost-effective materials, being easy to automate, and the ability to integrate with many other heating and curing methods.

Some downsides of this preparation method, however, include limited availability of usable materials, a short time period to execute the polymerization process, and expensive equipment is required.

Clay nanocomposites can experience a significant increase in strength, thermal stability, and ability to penetrate barriers upon addition of a minute portion of nanofiller into the polymer matrix.

[4] Recent improvements in the in situ polymerization process have led to the production of polymer-carbon nanotube composites with enhanced mechanical properties.

[5][6] Huang, Vanhaecke, and Chen found that in situ polymerization can potentially produce composites of conductive CNTs on a grand scale.

[6] Some aspects of in situ polymerization that can help achieve this feat are that it is cost effective with regards to operation, requires minimal sample, has high sensitivity, and offers many promising environmental and bioanalytical applications.

[7] However, due to certain undesirable properties such as poor stability, susceptibility to enzyme degradation, and insufficient capability to penetrate biological barriers, the application of such biopharmaceuticals in delivering medical treatment has been severely hindered.

[7] The formation of polymer-biomacromolecule nanocomposites via in situ polymerization offers an innovative means of overcoming these obstacles and improving the overall effectiveness of biopharmaceuticals.

[7] Recent studies have demonstrated how in situ polymerization can be implemented to improve the stability, bioactivity, and ability to cross biological barriers of biopharmaceuticals.

[7] Nanogels, which are microscopic hydrogel particles held together by a cross-linked polymer network, offer a desirable mode of drug delivery that has a variety of biomedical applications.

Three classes of in situ polymerized nanogels are 1) direct covalent conjugation via chemical modifications, 2) noncovalent encapsulation, and 3) cross-linking of preformed crosslinkable polymers.

Protein nanogels have tremendous applications for cancer treatment, vaccination, diagnosis, regenerative medicine, and therapies for loss-of-function genetic diseases.