The ability of amphiphilic block copolymers to self‐assemble in selective solvents has been widely studied in academia and utilized for various commercial products. The self‐assembled polymer vesicle is at the forefront of this nanotechnological revolution with seemingly endless possible uses, ranging from biomedical to nanometer‐scale enzymatic reactors. This review is focused on the inherent advantages in using polymer vesicles over their small molecule lipid counterparts and the potential applications in biology for both drug delivery and synthetic cellular reactors. magnified image

Plastics have revolutionized modern life, but have created a global waste crisis driven by our reliance and demand for low-cost, disposable materials. New approaches are vital to address challenges related to plastics waste heterogeneity, along with the property reductions induced by mechanical recycling. Chemical recycling and upcycling of polymers may enable circularity through separation strategies, chemistries that promote closed-loop recycling inherent to macromolecular design, and transformative processes that shift the life-cycle landscape. Polymer upcycling schemes may enable lower-energy pathways and minimal environmental impacts compared with traditional mechanical and chemical recycling. The emergence of industrial adoption of recycling and upcycling approaches is encouraging, solidifying the critical role for these strategies in addressing the fate of plastics and driving advances in next-generation materials design.