Stimuli–responsive metallopolymers

• We provide an overview of recent development of stimuli–responsive metallopolymers.
• They are engineered to respond to specific physical stimuli and chemical analytes.
• They are used as biological sensors and bioimaging reagents in cells and animals.

Stimuli–responsive metallopolymers have been drawing great research interest in the design and development of novel sensory materials. Smart metallopolymers combining advantages of both metal complexes and polymers exhibit good solubility and processibility, and show changes in conformation, conductivity, color, and luminescence in response to external stimuli. This review article summarizes the recent development of metallopolymers that are responsive to environmental physical parameters such as temperature, electricity, and light and chemical analytes such as pH values, ions and gas molecules. The applications of these stimuli–responsive metallopolymers as biological sensors and imaging reagents in biological environments have also been discussed.

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