Biodegradable and water-soluble polymers in block copolymer architectures

• Biodegradable and water-soluble polymers as components in block copolymers ar reviewed. • These block copolymers can form fully degradable nanostructures for use in drug delivery and environmental applications. • We summarize most commonly used water-soluble polymers and highlight their abiotic or biotic degradation. • Some polymer classes like polyphosphoesters and poly(amino acids) allow controlled block copolymer synthesis and controlling their degradation mechanisms and kinetics Polymers that are both biodegradable and water-soluble present a compelling alternative to traditional, environmentally persistent materials. While a significant body of research exists on biodegradable hydrophobic polymers in block copolymer (BCP) architectures, the study of their biodegradable, water-soluble counterparts remains less explored. In contrast to previous reviews focusing on hydrophobic components, this article centers on biodegradable water-soluble polymers (WSPs) and their integration into BCP architectures. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in this field, highlighting the versatility of biodegradable water-soluble polymers (WSPs) as building blocks for BCPs. We discuss various classes of WSPs, including polyphosphoesters, poly(amino acids), and modified polyesters, and examine their degradation mechanisms, which can be either hydrolytic or enzymatic. By synthesizing recent advances across multiple polymer classes, this work underscores their contribution to the development of fully degradable, functional nanostructures. We emphasize how integrating these WSPs into BCPs, often with conventional biodegradable hydrophobic blocks, enables the creation of fully degradable nanostructures. These materials can self-assemble into various morphologies, such as micelles and polymersomes, with potential applications in drug delivery and environmental remediation. The article also provides a critical perspective on their environmental fate, emphasizing the importance of understanding their degradation profiles for a sustainable end-of-life.