Transport, Dynamics, and Phase Behavior of Soft Matter Under Nanoconfinement

Abstract

Nanoscale confinement strongly alters the behavior of soft matter, from polymer crystallization to lipid self-assembly. In this mini review, we summarize recent progress on how confinement impacts molecular transport, crystallization, dynamics, and phase behavior in two distinct media: hard confinement in inorganic nanopores and soft confinement in lipidic mesophases. In the first part, we highlight polymer transport and dynamics in rigid nanopores, emphasizing how chain topology (linear, star-shaped, hyperbranched) governs confined crystallization and relaxation dynamics. In the second part, we turn to lipidic mesophases as biomimetic soft confining media, where phase transitions and molecular transport are intricately coupled to hydration and interfacial interactions. Together, these studies reveal that confinement effects arise not only from geometry but also from surface interactions, and that their interplay determines the structure and dynamics of confined matter. Understanding these principles opens avenues for applications in drug delivery, cryo-enzymology, and nanofabrication of functional materials and devices.