Recent Advances in the Creation of Supramolecular Assemblies by Polymer-Aided Co-Crystallization Approach

Recent advances in the creation of supramolecular assemblies have opened new avenues in the development of functional materials. One such approach gaining significant attention is polymer-assisted crystallization, where polymers play a pivotal role in driving the formation, stabilization, and enhancement of co-crystals and other supramolecular assemblies. This review highlights the evolution of polymer-aided crystallization techniques, with a focus on methods such as hot-melt extrusion (HME), mechanochemical approaches including neat grinding and liquid-assisted grinding, and advanced techniques like high-shear wet granulation (HSWG), freeze drying, and slow evaporation, and so on. Each method is deliberated in terms of its principles, advantages, and practical applications in the synthesis of co-crystals. Additionally, the role of polymers in stabilizing and enhancing the performance of co-crystals is explored, with emphasis on their function as co-formers, precipitation inhibitors, and granulating agents. Finally, the current obstacles and future possibilities of these intriguing approaches for numerous applications are discussed. We hope that this review will motivate researchers to create numerous functional materials that use this polymer-aided crystallization technique to address a variety of broader social issues.