Adaptive Nanoparticle‐Polymer Complexes as Optical Elements: Design and Application in Nanophotonics and Nanomedicine

Abstract Over the last few decades, nanomaterials have attracted significant attention in diverse applications. Today, a new generation of nanomaterials, which demonstrate tunable physical and chemical properties, is able to address modern challenges in personalized medicine, adaptive optics and smart chemistry. Here, a special class of such nanomaterials – biointegrated nanoparticle‐polymer complexes and their ensembles with tunable optical properties are reviewed. Key aspects of the design and synthesis of such complexes exhibiting dynamic structural changes to different external and internal stimuli (e.g., light, chemical, temperature, electric/magnetic fields and others) are discussed. Consequently, these changes allow one to tune the optical response in reversible or irreversible manner. The application of such complexes is considered as functional adaptive elements for optical filters, sensors, Bragg mirrors, artificial muscles, and drug delivery. The current state and the perspectives of further development of this research area are discussed.