The paper presents the results of developing paint and varnish coatings for protecting metal bridge structures, featuring high durability under operating conditions. The focus is on preparing metal surfaces for painting, specifically developing a formulation for a pre-treatment composition prior to paint and varnish application. The composition is a solution based on mixed solvents, one of which is an ester and the other an aromatic hydrocarbon, containing nanomaterials. The specific solvents used in the composition, as well as the types and amounts of nanomaterials, depend on the type of film-forming agent in the applied paint and varnish. The conducted studies on a specific example of a composition formulation, including a solution based on mixed solvents (butyl acetate (52-55 wt.%) and toluene (45-48 wt.%), containing a concentrate with carbon nanotubes and silicon dioxide, in an amount of 0.01-0.2 wt.%, including 10 wt.% single-wall carbon nanotubes and silicon dioxide nanoparticles and 90 wt.% mixture of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate and alkylammonium salt of high-molecular copolymers showed that acrylic paint and varnish coatings acquire increased physical and mechanical properties (adhesive strength, abrasion resistance, resistance to deformation effects, etc.). At the same time, there is an increase in the dielectric constant of the coating (from 16.45 to 18.39), which characterizes its increased conductivity, as well as a decrease in the dielectric loss tangent (from 0.017 to 0.008), which indicates the production of antistatic coatings. The chemical resistance of the coatings increases, which characterizes their resistance to aggressive environments, expressed in better preservation of properties according to the criteria: change in gloss (hue), whitening, blistering, peeling, wrinkling. When considering the formation of interaction on the metal surface during its contact with the coating during surface treatment with nanomaterials, the following mechanisms of action of nanomaterials with a metal surface were revealed, which are consistent with the provisions of the electrical theory of adhesion and the theory of the physical chemistry of polymers: interaction of nanomaterials with surface atoms of the metal with the formation of electrovalent interaction by the donor-acceptor mechanism; Chemical interaction (chemisorption) of the active sites on the surface of carbon nanotubes with the metal surface layer. Industrial testing of the resulting solution yielded a positive result: after 28 months of operation, the coating obtained by surface treatment with the nanomaterial composition, compared to the untreated coating, performs its functions and exhibits superior decorative and protective properties. The technical and economic efficiency of the developed approach is ensured by improved adhesive-cohesive interaction of paint and varnish coatings, which creates conditions for extending their service life and periods between repairs; and by reducing resource and energy costs without compromising coating quality due to the use of a small amount of binary nanomaterials in the developed composition.

Polymer powder bed fusion (PBF) is strongly influenced by powder chemistry and powder state, yet many studies discuss the materials and processing conditions in isolation. This review synthesises the literature using a powder-centred framework that connects polymer chemistry and powder production history to measurable powder descriptors, and then links these descriptors to processing windows, defect mechanisms, and application outcomes. Key descriptors include crystallinity and thermal transitions, additive packages, particle size distribution, morphology, and surface texture. Environmental sensitivities are also considered, including moisture uptake, temperature effects, and optical response. These factors are related to powder spreading, energy absorption, and melt solidification or sintering to explain how flowability, packing density, and melt dynamics govern porosity, lack of fusion, distortion, and degradation. Powder qualification is discussed together with lot-to-lot variability and lifecycle effects, including ageing, reuse, and refresh, using the indicators commonly reported in laboratory and production settings and supported by emerging in situ monitoring. Application case studies are consolidated to illustrate how powder state and process control translate into repeatable qualification targets as polymer PBF moves toward a predictable and transferable manufacturing practice.

Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) offer a promising route for CO2 separation, yet their potential is often limited by poor polymer-filler interfaces and challenges in integrating high-aspect-ratio fillers into scalable, defect-free thin-film composite (TFC) membranes. Here, we introduce a "polymer-in-cage" strategy that addresses these issues in a single casting step. A custom-synthesized comb-shaped copolymer (PZO) containing zinc-ion sites is designed to function dually as a mechanically robust matrix and an active pore-modulating agent for high-aspect-ratio ZIF-8 nanoplates (NZIF-8). The copolymer's Zn2+-acrylate sites electrostatically anchor into the ZIF-8 pore windows, constricting their flexible apertures to enhance molecular sieving. The resulting TFC membranes exhibit an exceptional CO2/N2 selectivity of 80 and a CO2 permeance of 333 GPU. This performance stems from a dual enhancement, where polymer-induced pore tuning is amplified by the tortuous diffusion pathways created by the aligned nanoplates. Furthermore, the membranes demonstrate excellent operational durability under high-pressure, humid, and long-term conditions. By uniquely integrating polymer chemistry with MOF architecture, this scalable strategy offers a new design paradigm for fabricating next-generation membranes for CO2 capture and other critical separations.

ABSTRACT Gigaton‐scale carbon removal demands geologic permanence at low land, water, and energy cost. Ocean pathways are promising, but many electrochemical routes require large pH swings, membranes/sorbents, and suffer from fouling. We report the self‐biased electro‐mineralization as a practical route to ocean carbon removal. Porous core‐shell electrodes program interfacial fields that direct Ca 2+ /CO 3 2− transport and trigger in‐pore crystallization in simulated seawater, without membrane stacks or large bulk pH swings. Field strength is tunable via core/shell ratio, polymer chemistry, and fixed‐charge density, enabling the architecture to deliver long‐duration, fouling‐resistant operation (>2000 h), ∼25% DIC conversion under flow. A 400 cm 2 cell and a simple 100‐liter stirred reactor show that the microscale, uniform field both preserves performance under geometry area scale‐up and enables low‐overhead capacity expansion. Techno‐economic analysis projects an energy consumption of 44 kJ mol −1 CO 2 and a cost of $139 t −1 CO 2 . Extending beyond CaCO 3 , we precipitate additional sparingly soluble phases (CaF 2 , BaSO 4 , PbSO 4 ) from complex brines, establishing a platform also supporting resource recovery. These results shift ocean mineralization from bulk‐solution manipulation to programmable reaction‐environment design, advancing a scalable, cost‐effective pathway to climate relevant carbon removal.

Gigaton-scale carbon removal demands geologic permanence at low land, water, and energy cost. Ocean pathways are promising, but many electrochemical routes require large pH swings, membranes/sorbents, and suffer from fouling. We report the self-biased electro-mineralization as a practical route to ocean carbon removal. Porous core-shell electrodes program interfacial fields that direct Ca2+/CO3 2- transport and trigger in-pore crystallization in simulated seawater, without membrane stacks or large bulk pH swings. Field strength is tunable via core/shell ratio, polymer chemistry, and fixed-charge density, enabling the architecture to deliver long-duration, fouling-resistant operation (>2000h), ∼25% DIC conversion under flow. A 400 cm2 cell and a simple 100-liter stirred reactor show that the microscale, uniform field both preserves performance under geometry area scale-up and enables low-overhead capacity expansion. Techno-economic analysis projects an energy consumption of 44kJ mol-1 CO2 and a cost of $139 t-1 CO2. Extending beyond CaCO3, we precipitate additional sparingly soluble phases (CaF2, BaSO4, PbSO4) from complex brines, establishing a platform also supporting resource recovery. These results shift ocean mineralization from bulk-solution manipulation to programmable reaction-environment design, advancing a scalable, cost-effective pathway to climate relevant carbon removal.

While thioether linkages are commonly associated with soft and amorphous polymer backbones, herein, we show that a calcium carbide-derived α,ω-bis(vinylthio) synthon enables crystalline, sequence-defined sulfur polymers with nonconventional luminescence. A single-step thiol-yne addition reaction uses acetylene generated in situ from industrial calcium carbide (CaC2) to produce a modular C2 vinyl sulfide (also known as vinylthio) monomer that undergoes quantitative, light-induced thiol-ene step-growth polymerization with aliphatic dithiols. Type I photoinitiation ensures complete anti-Markovnikov addition to give C2 -segmented poly(thioether)s, while thermal and base-mediated conditions generate hybrid poly(thioether)/polydisulfide structures. The resulting sulfur-rich backbones display sharp melting transitions, spherulitic crystallization, one-step thermal decomposition up to about 316°C, and pronounced cluster-triggered emission arising from dense thioether clustering and through-space conjugation. Green metric analysis reveals high Atom Economy and essentially waste-free polymer formation, thereby linking efficient use of an established C2 synthon to precision sulfur polymer design. This C2 vinylthio platform provides a general strategy to convert classically soft thioether motifs into structurally ordered and luminescent materials, and establishes vinyl sulfides as powerful, yet underutilized, building blocks in sustainable polymer chemistry.

Cationic polymers present an attractive platform forgene delivery.However, these highly charged macromolecules can also lead to cytotoxicity.Therefore, there is a strong unmet need to develop efficacious polymericgene delivery vehicles with high biocompatibility. Here, we leveragerecent advances in polymer chemistry to develop backbone-degradablecationic copolymers and evaluate their potential as gene deliveryvehicles. Specifically, polycations were prepared via copolymerizationwith macrocyclic allylic sulfides, which can participate in PET-RAFTpolymerization via radical ring-opening cascade copolymerization toinstall degradable backbone segments. A polymer library with varyingdegradabilities was prepared and evaluated using a model GFP plasmidto transfect U-2 OS cells. Incorporation of degradable groups intothe copolymer backbone improved transfection efficiency 10-fold atlow amine/phosphate (N/P) ratios without increasing cytotoxicity,thereby enhancing their value as gene delivery carriers. We hypothesizethat degradability may enhance the complex’s disassembly kineticsin the cytosol, enabling more efficient payload release.

The extensive global use of synthetic polymers has raised concern about their environmental fate, particularly regarding the generation and ecological impact of polymer degradation products. Effective environmental risk assessment requires an understanding of degradation product identity and environmental behavior, yet polymer metabolomics libraries are not well-populated. In this work, mass remainder analysis was used to systematically characterize oligomeric degradation products of polyamide-6 (PA6), polycaprolactone (PCL), and polylactic acid (PLA) using nontarget liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. Distinct homologous series were identified, revealing oligomers of up to seven repeating units for PA6, four for PCL, and 12 for PLA. Among the features detected, up to 70% formed remainder-based clusters (i.e., related by Kendrick mass defects of whole integers and a constant remainder) indicative of plastic-derived oligomerization patterns. To overcome limitations in molecular formula annotations for larger oligomers generated by SIRIUS, this work leveraged retention time variations, MS2 fragmentation, and spectral matching for reliable characterization and structural elucidation. Retention time changes across varying mobile-phase pHs (2.7, 5.0, and 9.0) revealed substantial shifts for oligomers with ionizable functional groups, allowing quantitative insights into their acid-base properties (pKa). These experimentally determined hydrophobicity values (i.e., log Kow) deviated from computational estimations from a suite of available tools across polymer chemistries, highlighting inadequacies in existing estimation models and the opportunity for the rapid measurement of these important physicochemical properties using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry workflows. This work demonstrates the necessity of experimentally derived oligomer-specific data to improve computational modeling for assessing the environmental fate of polymer degradation products.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as robust synthetic alternatives to natural biorecognition elements, offering high selectivity and stability for sensor applications. Advancements in nanotechnology and polymer chemistry in the last few decades positioned MIPs as emergent and promising materials for sensor devices. This review covers various components of a functional MIP structure, including monomers, cross-linkers, and initiators that form the MIP backbone, aided by template molecules and porogens. Chemical interactions involved in polymer imprinting, to critically understand how the various components interact with each other to make functional MIP structures, have been discussed in detail using suitable examples. The different methods of polymerization used to formulate its functional version have also been elaborated in the current article, which includes bulk polymerization, surface polymerization, electro-polymerization, sol-gel, phase inversion, and epitope imprinted polymerization, discussed in detail using suitable examples. This paper also includes precise yet insightful discussions on MIP-based sensing of various molecular categories, viz. small molecules, macromolecules, and environmental pollutants. The tables cover details of sensor fabrication strategies, their limits of detection (LOD) and linear dynamic range (LDR), and the technique used along with the real sample considerations in those studies. The paper brings fundamental insights from synthesis to real-time applications of these materials in order to understand their overall research scope along with translational bottlenecks in a future perspective.

The growing demand for batteries with higher energy density and improved safety necessitates the development of advanced electrode materials beyond conventional systems. Although high-energy electrodes offer superior theoretical capacities, they encounter major challenges, including structural instability caused by volume changes and uncontrollable dissolution. These issues contribute to performance degradation and safety risks at both the electrode and cell levels. Addressing these persistent problems is therefore essential to achieving safe, high-energy-density batteries. Polymers, with their versatile functionalities, present significant opportunities in this regard. The strategic design and deployment of tailored polymer architectures can enhance structural stability and improve cell configurations. In this work, we highlight the role of polymer chemistry in governing electrochemical behavior and demonstrate how it can drive substantial improvements in both performance metrics and the critical safety features required for reliable battery operation.

Controlled drug delivery systems (CDDSs) are increasingly attracting interest from the scientific community in order to achieve highly precise, customized, and efficient therapeutic treatment of various diseases. The challenge is to develop highly innovative devices and appropriate administration methods in order to reduce side effects and further improve patient compliance. In this context, transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDSs) represent smart tools that permit supplying therapeutically effective amounts of drugs at a fixed time using the skin as the administration route. They are non-invasive and allow for avoiding gastric side effects and first-pass metabolism occurring in the liver. TDDSs have been produced using numerous therapeutic agents and, more recently, also biological molecules. However, it must be highlighted that they are complex systems, and their formulation requires a multidisciplinary approach and expertise in polymer chemistry and materials science. A contribution in this direction is given from the integration of membrane technology with biological and pharmaceutical sciences. The present review deals with a general overview of controlled drug delivery systems. Particular attention is devoted to TDDSs and to the materials used for producing polymeric membrane-based TDDSs with a membrane engineering perspective. It also describes the passive and the most advanced active strategies for transdermal delivery. Finally, different transdermal membrane-based release systems, like patches, mixed-matrix membranes, and imprinted membranes are discussed.

Artificial intelligence in polymer chemistry: opportunities and challenges

Plastic microbeads, widely incorporated into personal care and cleansing products, have emerged as a pervasive contaminant in freshwater systems, including in North America. Historical estimates indicate that North American consumers alone contributed trillions of microbeads daily to municipal wastewater, with global usage reaching quadrillions per day. Regulatory actions in 2017 in Canada and the USA to ban microbeads in personal care products appear to have greatly reduced microbead contamination levels, including a decrease in microbead proportion from 2 to 5% to 0.003%, and an 86% reduction in PE microbead discharge from wastewater treatment plants. Yet these particles still persist in the environment due to their resistance to degradation and continued release from unregulated sources, including industrial abrasives and certain cleaning agents. Studies across the Great Lakes, one of the world’s largest freshwater systems, have documented widespread microbead contamination in surface waters, sediments, and shorelines, highlighting their persistence and accumulation. This review synthesizes findings from key studies conducted between 2013 and 2017 to establish a pre-ban baseline of microbead distribution in the Great Lakes, and presents new data collected from 2018 to 2021 as a post-ban contamination assessment. The review emphasizes the unique challenges posed by microbeads within the broader context of microplastic pollution. We also hope that this paper underscores the critical role of polymer chemists and engineers in developing innovative materials and removal strategies to mitigate future contamination.

Photocatalytic processes have emerged as powerful signal amplification strategies for electrochemical biosensors by generating reactive radicals under mild conditions. However, the integration of photocatalysis with controlled radical polymerization, such as reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), remains underexplored. Herein, we report a novel photo-Fenton-mediated RAFT polymerization system based on a heterostructured α-Fe2O3/Ti3C2TxMXene, which synergistically bridges photocatalysis and polymer chemistry for biosensing applications. Within this heterostructure, Ti3C2TxMXene serves as a conductive scaffold that promotes charge separation in α-Fe2O3 under visible light, accelerating H2O2 decomposition to generate abundant hydroxyl radicals (•OH). These radicals initiate and regulate RAFT polymerization, enabling controllable chain growth and amplified electrochemical signals. The developed photo-Fenton-driven RAFT coupling was successfully integrated into a biosensor for microRNA-144 detection, exhibiting a broad linear range (0.01 fM-10 pM) and an ultralow detection limit of 4.44 aM. This work demonstrates a synergistic strategy that connects photocatalysis with controlled radical polymerization, providing a rational design approach for MXene-based hybrid materials toward ultrasensitive biomedical sensing.

Microplastics (MPs) are recognised as emerging vectors for hydrophobic organic contaminants in aquatic environments due to their relatively large surface area and the diversity of their polymer chemistries compositions. This study investigates the sorption behaviour of two priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pyrene (PYR) and fluoranthene (FLU), onto six common MPs: poly(m-xylene adipamide) (PA-MXD6), high- and low-density polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polylactic acid (PLA). Sorption isotherms and kinetics were evaluated under simulated freshwater conditions at environmentally relevant concentrations (1–50 µg·L−1). Despite the low MP concentration used (0.2 g·L−1), over 80% of the initial PAH content was removed by polyolefins, and more than 50% by all other MPs. Sorption capacity was strongly dependent on particle surface area. Langmuir, Henry, and Freundlich isotherms models were fitted, with linear behaviour prevailing at low concentrations. Analysis using the Dubini–-Radushkevich model confirmed that sorption involves chemisorption contributions, mainly through π–π interactions and hydrophobic interactions (polyolefins). Mechanistically, molecular diffusion within the MP matrix was not governing the sorption process, as diffusion coefficients varied with particle size instead of polymer chemistry. Instead, sorption appears to be governed by PAH diffusion through the hydrodynamic boundary layer and subsequent retention on the MP surface. Empirically, kinetic data fitted the pseudo-second-order model, further supporting that the sorption process involves chemisorption. These findings highlight the role of MPs as vectors for PAHs in freshwater systems and their potential application in contaminant removal. Expressing sorption per unit surface area is recommended for accurate assessment. This work contributes to understanding the environmental behaviour of MPs and their implications for pollutant transport and toxicity.

Cancer immunotherapy increasingly relies on nucleic acid-based vaccines, yet achieving efficient and safe delivery remains a critical limitation. Polyplexes-electrostatic complexes of cationic polymers and nucleic acids-have emerged as versatile carriers offering greater chemical tunability and multivalent targeting capacity compared to lipid nanoparticles, with lower immunogenicity than viral vectors. This review summarizes key design principles governing polyplex performance, including polymer chemistry, architecture, and assembly route-emphasizing microfluidic fabrication for improved size control and reproducibility. Mechanistically, effective systems support stepwise delivery: tumor targeting, cellular uptake, endosomal escape (via proton-sponge, membrane fusion, or photochemical disruption), and compartment-specific cargo release. We discuss therapeutic applications spanning plasmid DNA, siRNA, miRNA, mRNA, and CRISPR-based editing, highlighting preclinical data across multiple tumor types and early clinical evidence of on-target knockdown in human cancers. Particular attention is given to physiological barriers and engineering strategies-including size-switching systems, charge-reversal polymers, and tumor-penetrating peptides-that improve intratumoral distribution. However, significant challenges persist, including cationic toxicity, protein corona formation, manufacturing variability, and limited clinical responses to date. Current evidence supports polyplexes as a modular platform complementary to lipid nanoparticles in selected oncology indications, though realizing this potential requires continued optimization alongside rigorous translational development.

Conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) hydrogels uniquely combineπ-conjugation,ionic functionality, and water compatibility in a single-polymer network.This work reports on the design, synthesis, and application of high-porosityCPE hydrogels obtained via the Sonogashira–Hagihara cross-couplingreaction as a polymerization chemistry in a high internal phase emulsion(HIPE) template. In this way, we combine the hydrophilic and π-conjugatedelectronic properties of CPEs with the high porosity of polymerizedhigh internal phase emulsions (polyHIPEs or PHs), enabling the developmentof a multifunctional polymer platform. High-porosity CPE-PHs exhibita surface area of up to 355 m2·g–1, excellent water uptakes of up to ∼25 g·g–1, and visible-light absorption with band edges at 720 and 610 nmand band gaps of 2.35 and 2.47 eV for anionic CPE-PH–SO3® and cationic CPE-PH-NMe3+, respectively.These CPE-PHs are then used to remove the endocrine-disrupting chemicalbisphenol A (BPA) as a model water pollutant. The CPE-PH–SO3® demonstrates exceptional performance, achieving overallremoval efficiencies of 93% and 96% through synergistic adsorption(∼71% and ∼50%, respectively) and visible light-drivenphotocatalysis (∼22% and ∼46%, respectively) during8 and 24 h experiments. These efficiencies are among the highest reportedfor organic photocatalyst. In contrast, the cationic analogue CPE-PH-NMe3+ suffers from oxidative degradation and thus limitedactivity. Stability studies confirmed that CPE-PH–SO3® retains its structural and electronic integrity during prolongedoperation. These results demonstrate the potential of high-porosityCPE-PH hydrogels as a multifunctional polymer platform that synergisticallyintegrates adsorption and heterogeneous photocatalysis for robustand efficient water applications.

Lupin (Lupinus spp.), a legume known for its high protein content, holds great promise as a sustainable protein source to meet future global demands. Despite its nutritional benefits, including substantial dietary fibre and bioactive compounds, lupin remains underutilised in human diets due to several techno-functional and sensory limitations. This review delves into the techno-functional limitations of lupin, which include poor foaming capacity, low water and oil absorption, inadequate emulsification properties, and poor solubility. Lupin’s techno-functional limits are tied to the compact, heat-stable nature of its conglutin storage proteins and high insoluble fibre content. While research has been conducted on fermenting other legumes such as soybeans, chickpeas, peas, and lentils with Exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing bacteria, its application to lupin remains largely unexplored. Crucially, this work is one of the first reviews to exclusively link lupin’s unique protein and fibre structure with the specific polymer chemistry of bacterial EPS as a targeted modification strategy. Current research findings suggest that EPS-producing Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) fermentation can significantly improve the techno-functional properties of legumes, indicating strong potential for similar benefits with lupin. The analysis highlights various studies demonstrating the ability of EPS-producing LAB to improve water retention, emulsification, and overall palatability of legume-based products. Furthermore, it emphasises the need for continued research in the realm of fermentation with EPS-producing bacteria to enhance the utilisation of lupin in food applications. By addressing these challenges, fermented lupin could become a more appealing and nutritious option, contributing significantly to global food security and nutrition.

The increasing environmental burden from petroleum-based plastics necessitates the exploration of sustainable alternatives inspired by nature and traditional material practices. This study presents the development of biodegradable food packaging films derived from indigenous biopolymers such as sodium alginate, chitosan, and poly (γ-glutamic acid), integrated with natural additives including lignin nanoparticles and jackfruit seed extract. Guided by the principles of biomimicry and indigenous ecological wisdom, the formulation aims to emulate the functional resilience and biodegradability of natural plant cuticles. Physicochemical, mechanical, and barrier properties of the films were characterised to assess their potential as eco-friendly packaging materials. The findings highlight the role of traditional knowledge systems in guiding sustainable material innovation and promoting circular economy practices. This work bridges indigenous wisdom and modern polymer chemistry, contributing to the advancement of green technologies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 12 and 13).

These concluding remarks summarize the Faraday Discussion meeting titled "Polymerisation and depolymerisation chemistry: the second century" held in Oxford, UK in September 2025.