Supramolecular Polymeric Materials Research Articles

Supramolecular thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomer materials with self-healing ability based on oligomeric charged triblock copolymers

Supramolecular polymeric materials constitute a unique class of materials held together by non-covalent interactions. These dynamic supramolecular interactions can provide unique properties such as a strong decrease in viscosity upon relatively mild heating, as well as self-healing ability. In this study we demonstrate the unique mechanical properties of phase-separated electrostatic supramolecular materials based on mixing of low molar mass, oligomeric, ABA-triblock copolyacrylates with oppositely charged outer blocks. In case of well-chosen mixtures and block lengths, the charged blocks are phase separated from the uncharged matrix in a hexagonally packed nanomorphology as observed by transmission electron microscopy. Thermal and mechanical analysis of the material shows that the charged sections have a Tg closely beyond room temperature, whereas the material shows an elastic response at temperatures far above this Tg ascribed to the electrostatic supramolecular interactions. A broad set of materials having systematic variations in triblock copolymer structures was used to provide insights in the mechanical properties and and self-healing ability in correlation with the nanomorphology of the materials.

Evaluation of Stability of Amylose Inclusion Complexes Depending on Guest Polymers and Their Application to Supramolecular Polymeric Materials.

This paper describes the evaluation of the stability of amylose–polymer inclusion complexes under solution state in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) depending on guest polymers. The three complexes were prepared by the vine-twining polymerization method using polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) as guest polymers. The stability investigation was conducted at desired temperatures (25, 30, 40, 60 °C) in DMSO solutions of the complexes. Consequently, the amylose–PTHF inclusion complex was dissociated at 25 °C, while the other complexes were stable under the same conditions. When the temperatures were elevated, the amylose–PCL and amylose–PLLA complexes were dissociated at 40 and 60 °C, respectively. We also found that amylose inclusion supramolecular polymers which were prepared by the vine-twining polymerization using primer-guest conjugates formed films by the acetylation of amylose segments. The film from acetylated amylose–PLLA supramolecular polymer had higher storage modulus than that from acetylated amylose–PTHF supramolecular polymer, as a function of temperature.

Stochastic and preaveraged nonlinear rheology models for entangled telechelic star polymers

We present a simplified stochastic model designed to exemplify the nonlinear rheology of entangled supramolecular polymeric materials. As a toy model for entanglement effects, we use the Rolie-Poly equations [Likhtman and Graham, J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. 114, 1–12 (2003)] that we decorate with finite extensibility. Additionally, we include a stretch-dependent probability of detachment for the stickers. In both linear and nonlinear regimes, we explore the parameter space, indicating the parameter values for which qualitative changes in response to the applied flow are predicted. Theory and results in the linear rheology regime are consistent with the previous more detailed work of van Ruymbeke and co-workers [van Ruymbeke et al., Macromolecules 43, 4401–4411 (2010)]. Finally, we develop a preaveraged version of the stochastic equations described above to obtain a set of nonstochastic coupled equations that produces very similar predictions but requires less computing resources. This preaveraged model is based on two tensors representing the attached and detached chain populations and a scalar quantity that represents the fraction of these populations.

Fluorescent Supramolecular Polymeric Materials.

Fluorescent supramolecular polymeric materials are rising stars in the field of fluorescent materials not only because of the inherent optoelectronic properties originating from their chromophores, but also due to the fascinating stimuli-responsiveness and reversibility coming from their noncovalent connections. Especially, these noncovalent connections influence the fluorescence properties of the chromophores because their state of aggregation and energy transfer can be regulated by the assembly-disassembly process. Considering these unique properties, fluorescent supramolecular polymeric materials have facilitated the evolution of new materials useful for applications in fluorescent sensors, probes, as imaging agents in biological systems, light-emitting diodes, and organic electronic devices. In this Review, fluorescent supramolecular polymeric materials are classified depending on the types of main driving forces for supramolecular polymerization, including multiple hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, π-π stacking interactions, metal-coordination, van der Waals interactions and host-guest interactions. Through the summary of the studies about fluorescent supramolecular polymeric materials, the status quo of this research field is assessed. Based on existing challenges, directions for the future development of this field are furnished.

Supramolecular Polymeric Materials Containing Cyclodextrins.

Smart design of polymeric materials may lead to intelligent materials exhibiting unique functional properties. Looking at nature, living systems use specific and reversible intermolecular interactions in realizing complex functions. Hence reversible bonds based on selective molecular recognition can impart artificial materials with unique functional properties. This review mainly focuses on supramolecular polymeric materials based on cyclodextrin-based host-guest interactions. Polymeric materials using molecular recognition at polymer main chain, side chain, and termini are described. Polymers carrying host and guest residues exhibit unique properties such as: 1) formation of macroscopic self-assembly of polymer gels carrying host and guest residues; 2) stimuli-responsive self-healing properties due to the reversible nature of host-guest interactions; and 3) macroscopic motion of artificial muscle cross-linked by host-guest interaction controlled by external stimuli. An overview of recent developments in this new frontier between materials science and life science is given.

Engineering Functionalization in a Supramolecular Polymer: Hierarchical Self-Organization of Triply Orthogonal Non-covalent Interactions on a Supramolecular Coordination Complex Platform.

Here we present a method for the construction of functionalizable supramolecular polymers by controlling three orthogonal interactions within a single system: (i) coordination-driven self-assembly; (ii) H-bonding; and (iii) host-guest interactions between crown ether and dialkylammonium substrates. Three unique molecules constitute the supramolecular construct, including a 2-ureido-4-pyrimidinone (UPy)-functionalized rigid dipyridyl donor and a complementary organoplatinum(II) acceptor decorated with a crown ether moiety that provide the basis for self-assembly and polymerization. The final host-guest interaction is demonstrated by using one of two dialkylammonium molecules containing fluorophores that bind to the benzo-21-crown-7 (B21C7) groups of the acceptors, providing a spectroscopic handle to evaluate the functionalization. An initial coordination-driven self-assembly yields hexagonal metallacycles with alternating UPy and B21C7 groups at their vertices. The assembly does not interfere with H-bonding between the UPy groups, which link the discrete metallacycles into a supramolecular network, leaving the B21C7 groups free for functionalization via host-guest chemistry. The resultant network results in a cavity-cored metallogel at high concentrations or upon solvent swelling. The light-emitting properties of the dialkylammonium substrates were transferred to the network upon host-guest binding. This method is compatible with any dialkylammonium substrate that does not disrupt coordination nor H-bonding, and thus, the unification of these three orthogonal interactions represents a simple yet highly efficient strategy to obtain supramolecular polymeric materials with desirable functionality.

Supramolecular Polymers in Aqueous Media.

This review discusses one-dimensional supramolecular polymers that form in aqueous media. First, naturally occurring supramolecular polymers are described, in particular, amyloid fibrils, actin filaments, and microtubules. Their structural, thermodynamic, kinetic, and nanomechanical properties are highlighted, as well as their importance for the advancement of biologically inspired supramolecular polymer materials. Second, five classes of synthetic supramolecular polymers are described: systems based on (1) hydrogen-bond motifs, (2) large π-conjugated surfaces, (3) host-guest interactions, (4) peptides, and (5) DNA. We focus on recent studies that address key challenges in the field, providing mechanistic understanding, rational polymer design, important functionality, robustness, or unusual thermodynamic and kinetic properties.

Fabrication of π-Conjugated Polymers with Stable Columnar Order from Hydrogen-bonded Discotic Liquid Crystals Containing Diacetylene and Acrylate Moieties

New cross-linked conjugated polydiacetylenes with stable columnar order have been fabricated by using hydrogen-bonded discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) containing photoreactive diacetylene and acrylate moieties. The polymerizable DLC exhibiting columnar mesophase has been prepared simply through hydrogen bonding between a phloroglucinol core and pyridine derivatives containing two photoreactive groups. Photopolymerization of the hydrogen-bonded DLCs in the LC state yielded cross-linked conjugated polydiacetylenic columns in which the diacetylene and acrylate groups were selectively polymerized. Our controlled methodology will provide a promising way to fabricate supramolecular π-functional polymeric materials for plastic optoelectronic devices.

Highly Flexible, Tough, and Self-Healing Supramolecular Polymeric Materials Using Host-Guest Interaction.

Flexible, tough, and self-healable polymeric materials are promising to be a solution to the energy problem by substituting for conventional heavy materials. A fusion of supramolecular chemistry and polymer chemistry is a powerful method to create such intelligent materials. Here, a supramolecular polymeric material using multipoint molecular recognition between cyclodextrin (CD) and hydrophobic guest molecules at polymer side chain is reported. A transparent, flexible, and tough hydrogel (host-guest gel) is formed by a simple preparation procedure. The host-guest gel shows self-healing property in both wet state and dry state due to reversible nature of host-guest interaction. The practical utility of the host-guest gel as a scratch curable coating is demonstrated.

Self-Healing, Expansion-Contraction, and Shape-Memory Properties of a Preorganized Supramolecular Hydrogel through Host-Guest Interactions.

Supramolecular materials cross-linked between polymer chains by noncovalent bonds have the potential to provide dynamic functions that are not produced by covalently cross-linked polymeric materials. We focused on the formation of supramolecular polymeric materials through host-guest interactions: a powerful method for the creation of nonconventional materials. We employed two different kinds of host-guest inclusion complexes of β-cyclodextrin (βCD) with adamantane (Ad) and ferrocene (Fc) to bind polymers together to form a supramolecular hydrogel (βCD-Ad-Fc gel). The βCD-Ad-Fc gel showed self-healing ability when damaged and responded to redox stimuli by expansion or contraction. Moreover, the βCD-Ad-Fc gel showed a redox-responsive shape-morphing effect. We thus succeeded in deriving three functions from the introduction of two kinds of functional units into a supramolecular material.

高分子側鎖におけるホスト–ゲスト相互作用を利用した酸化還元応答性超分子材料の創製

グルコース単位が環状に繋がったホスト分子シクロデキストリン(CD)および酸化還元応答性ゲスト分子フェロセン(Fc)を側鎖に導入したポリマーや高分子ゲルを用いて，酸化還元応答性超分子材料を創製した．側鎖にCDを修飾したポリマーとFcを修飾したポリマーとの混合により超分子ヒドロゲルが形成された．ホスト–ゲスト相互作用の可逆性に起因する自己修復性を見いだし，Fcの酸化還元に伴うCDとの相互作用の変化を利用してこれをオン・オフ制御した．この超分子ネットワークに化学架橋を導入すると，酸化還元に応じたゲル内部の架橋密度の変化に伴い膨潤・収縮するゲルとなった．さらにCDおよびFcを別々のゲルに導入するとそれらが接着することを見いだし，Fcの特徴を活かして二種類の分子間相互作用を使い分け，配列を制御してマクロな「もの」を自己組織化する新たなシステムを構築した．

A rapidly self-healing supramolecular polymer hydrogel with photostimulated room-temperature phosphorescence responsiveness.

Development of self-healing and photostimulated luminescent supramolecular polymeric materials is important for artificial soft materials. A supramolecular polymeric hydrogel is reported based on the host-guest recognition between a β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) host polymer (poly-β-CD) and an α-bromonaphthalene (α-BrNp) polymer (poly-BrNp) without any additional gelator, which can self-heal within only about one minute under ambient atmosphere without any additive. This supramolecular polymer system can be excited to engender room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) signals based on the fact that the inclusion of β-CD macrocycle with α-BrNp moiety is able to induce RTP emission (CD-RTP). The RTP signal can be adjusted reversibly by competitive complexation of β-CD with azobenzene moiety under specific irradiation by introducing another azobenzene guest polymer (poly-Azo).

A Rapidly Self‐Healing Supramolecular Polymer Hydrogel with Photostimulated Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence Responsiveness

AbstractDevelopment of self‐healing and photostimulated luminescent supramolecular polymeric materials is important for artificial soft materials. A supramolecular polymeric hydrogel is reported based on the host–guest recognition between a β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) host polymer (poly‐β‐CD) and an α‐bromonaphthalene (α‐BrNp) polymer (poly‐BrNp) without any additional gelator, which can self‐heal within only about one minute under ambient atmosphere without any additive. This supramolecular polymer system can be excited to engender room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP) signals based on the fact that the inclusion of β‐CD macrocycle with α‐BrNp moiety is able to induce RTP emission (CD‐RTP). The RTP signal can be adjusted reversibly by competitive complexation of β‐CD with azobenzene moiety under specific irradiation by introducing another azobenzene guest polymer (poly‐Azo).

ChemInform Abstract: Supramolecular Polymers Constructed from Macrocycle‐Based Host‐Guest Molecular Recognition Motifs

AbstractReview: 56 refs.

Supramolecular thermoplastic with 0.5 Pa·s melt viscosity.

Design of materials with polymer-like properties at service temperature but able to flow like simple liquids when heated remains one of the important challenges of supramolecular chemistry. Combining these antagonistic properties is highly desirable to provide durability, processability, and recyclability of materials. Here, we explore a new strategy based on polycondensation reactions to design supramolecular polymer materials with stress at break above 10 MPa and melt viscosity lower than 1 Pa·s. We report the synthesis and rheological and mechanical properties (uniaxial tensile tests) of supramolecular polymers based on a multiblock polyamide architecture. The flexibility of polycondensation reactions made it possible to control the molecular size distribution, the strength of hydrogen bonds, and the crystallization of middle and end groups and to achieve targeted properties.

Supramolecular Dendritic Polymers: From Synthesis to Applications

CONSPECTUS: Supramolecular dendritic polymers (SDPs), which perfectly combine the advantages of dendritic polymers with those of supramolecular polymers, are a novel class of non-covalently bonded, highly branched macromolecules with three-dimensional globular topology. Because of their dynamic/reversible nature, unique topological structure, and exceptional physical/chemical properties (e.g., low viscosity, high solubility, and a large number of functional terminal groups), SDPs have attracted increasing attention in recent years in both academic and industrial fields. In particular, the reversibility of non-covalent interactions endows SDPs with the ability to undergo dynamic switching of structure, morphology, and function in response to various external stimuli, such as pH, temperature, light, stress, and redox agents, which further provides a flexible and robust platform for designing and developing smart supramolecular polymeric materials and functional supramolecular devices. The existing SDPs can be systematically classified into the following six major types according to their topological features: supramolecular dendrimers, supramolecular dendronized polymers, supramolecular hyperbranched polymers, supramolecular linear-dendritic block copolymers, supramolecular dendritic-dendritic block copolymers, and supramolecular dendritic multiarm copolymers. These different types of SDPs possess distinct morphologies, unique architectures, and specific functions. Benefiting from their versatile topological structures as well as stimuli-responsive properties, SDPs have displayed not only unique characteristics or advantages in supramolecular self-assembly behaviors (e.g., controllable morphologies, specific performance, and facile functionalization) but also great potential to be promising candidates in various fields. In this Account, we summarize the recent progress in the synthesis, functionalization, and self-assembly of SDPs as well as their potential applications in a wide range of fields. A variety of synthetic methods using non-covalent interactions have been established to prepare different types of SDPs based on varied mono- or multifunctionalized building blocks (e.g., monomer, dendron, dendrimer, and hyperbranched polymer) with homo- or heterocomplementary units. In addition, SDPs can be further endowed with excellent functionalities by employing different modification approaches involving terminal, focal-point, and backbone modification. Similar to conventional dendritic polymers, SDPs can self-assemble into diverse supramolecular structures such as micelles, vesicles, fibers, nanorings, tubes, and many hierarchical structures. Finally, we highlight some typical examples of recent applications of SDP-based systems in biomedical fields (e.g., controlled drug/gene/protein delivery, bioimaging, and biomimetic chemistry), nanotechnology (e.g., nanoreactors, catalysis, and molecular imprinting), and functional materials. The current research on SDPs is still at the very early stage, and much more work needs to be done. We anticipate that future studies of SDPs will focus on developing multifunctional, hierarchical supramolecular materials toward their practical applications by utilization of cooperative non-covalent interactions.

Supramolecular Polymers Constructed from Macrocycle-Based Host–Guest Molecular Recognition Motifs

CONSPECTUS: Supramolecular polymers, fabricated via the combination of supramolecular chemistry and polymer science, are polymeric arrays of repeating units held together by reversible, relatively weak noncovalent interactions. The introduction of noncovalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, aromatic stacking interactions, metal coordination, and host-guest interactions, endows supramolecular polymers with unique stimuli responsiveness and self-adjusting abilities. As a result, diverse monomer structures have been designed and synthesized to construct various types of supramolecular polymers. By changing the noncovalent interaction types, numbers, or chemical structures of functional groups in these monomers, supramolecular polymeric materials can be prepared with tailored chemical and physical properties. In recent years, the interest in supramolecular polymers has been extended from the preparation of intriguing topological structures to the discoveries of potential applications as functional materials. Compared with traditional polymers, supramolecular polymers show some advantages in the fabrication of reversible or responsive materials. The development of supramolecular polymers also offers a platform to construct complex and sophisticated materials with a bottom-up approach. Macrocylic hosts, including crown ethers, cyclodextrins, calixarenes, cucurbiturils, and pillararenes, are the most commonly used building blocks in the fabrication of host-guest interaction-based supramolecular polymers. With the introduction of complementary guest molecules, macrocylic hosts demonstrate selective and stimuli-responsive host-guest complexation behaviors. By elaborate molecular design, the resultant supramolecular polymers can exhibit diverse structures based on the self-selectivity of host-guest interactions. The introduction of reversible host-guest interactions can further endow these supramolecular polymers with interesting and fascinating chemical/physical properties, including stimuli responsiveness, self-healing, and environmental adaptation. It has been reported that macrocycle-based supramolecular polymers can respond to pH change, photoirradition, anions, cations, temperature, and solvent. Macrocycle-based supramolecular polymers have been prepared in solution, in gel, and in the solid state. Furthermore, the solvent has a very important influence on the formation of these supramolecular polymers. Crown ether- and pillararene-based supramolecular polymers have mainly formed in organic solvents, such as chloroform, acetone, and acetonitrile, while cyclodextrin- and cucurbituril-based supramolecular polymerizations have been usually observed in aqueous solutions. For calixarenes, both organic solvents and water have been used as suitable media for supramolecular polymerization. With the development of supramolecular chemistry and polymer science, various methods, such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray techniques, electron microscopies, and theoretical calculation and computer simulation, have been applied for characterizing supramolecular polymers. The fabrication of macrocycle-based supramolecular polymers has become a currently hot research topic. In this Account, we summarize recent results in the investigation of supramolecular polymers constructed from macrocycle-based host-guest molecular recognition motifs. These supramolecular polymers are classified based on the different macrocycles used in them. Their monomer design, structure control, stimuli-responsiveness, and applications in various areas are discussed, and future research directions are proposed. It is expected that the development of supramolecular polymers will not only change the way we live and work but also exert significant influence on scientific research.

Stimuli-Responsive Supramolecular Polymers in Aqueous Solution

CONSPECTUS: Aiming to construct various novel supramolecular polymeric structures in aqueous solution beyond small supramolecular self-assembly molecules and develop functional supramolecular polymeric materials, research interest on functional supramolecular polymers has been prevailing in recent years. Supramolecular polymers are formed by bridging monomers or components together via highly directional noncovalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, π-π interaction, metal-ligand coordination, electrostatic interaction, and so forth. They can be easily functionalized by employing diverse building components with specific functions besides the traditional polymeric properties, a number of which are responsive to such external stimuli as pH variance, photoirradiation, chemically or electrochemically redox with the controllable conformation or construction switching, polymerization building and rebuilding, and function adjustment reversibly owing to the reversibility of noncovalent interactions. Supramolecular polymers are "soft matters" and can be functionalized with specific properties such as morphology adjustment, controllable luminescence, shape memory, self-healing, and so forth. Supramolecular polymers constructed based on macrocycle recognition and interlocked structures represent one typical branch of the supramolecular polymer family. Cyclodextrin (CD), cucurbituril (CB), and hydrophilic calixarene derivatives are usually employed to construct hydrophilic supramolecular polymers in aqueous solution. Stimuli-responsive hydrophilic supramolecular polymers, constructed in aqueous solution particularly, can be promising candidates for mimicking biocompatible or vital functional materials. This Account mainly focuses on the recent stimuli-responsive supramolecular polymers based on the host-guest interaction in aqueous solution. We describe the hydrophilic supramolecular polymers constructed via hydrophobic effects, electrostatic interaction, metal-ligand coordination, and multiple combinations of the above noncovalent interactions. The disparate ways to engender stimuli-responsive supramolecular polymers via the hydrophobic effects of α-CD, β-CD, and γ-CD macrocycles are illustrated and discussed. Some recent works on CD-based photoresponsive functional supramolecular polymers are summarized. CB (especially CB[8]) based supramolecular polymers and their pH-responsive and photoresponsive properties are introduced. Hydrophilic calixarene derivative (bis(p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene) typically) based supramolecular polymers via electrostatic interactions are reviewed, and their redox-responsive association/disassociation elaborated in detail. More complicate supramolecular polymers based on multiple noncovalent interactions are illustrated including hydrophobic effect, metal-ligand coordination, and electrostatic interactions and their functional stimuli-responsiveness elaborated as well. Finally, we give perspectives on the strength of these diverse noncovalent interactions to form supramolecular polymers in aqueous solution, on the advantage, disadvantage, efficiency, and reversibility of using certain stimuli in constructing supramolecular polymers and prospect the future function improvement of these polymers as functional materials.

Methods for Synthesizing the Macromolecular Constituents of Smart Nanosized Carriers for Controlled Drug Delivery

Smart multifunctional polymeric nanocarriers able to respond to physicochemical changes in their environment or to external stimuli represent a new paradigm in the field of pharmaceutical formulations for controlled drug delivery. The introductory part of the present review deals with this new concept and presents the main advantages resulting from the use of such nanovehicles instead of conventional, much larger drug delivery systems. The access to drug nanocarriers based on smart supramolecular polymeric materials is primarily limited by the available polymerization methods capable to produce polymers with low polydispersity index, as well as much more complex macromolecular architectures with strictly controlled chemical composition, such as block copolymers and star or graft polymers or copolymers. This article reviews the state-of-the art in controlled/"living" free radical polymerization techniques as well as ring opening polymerization methods. Nitroxide mediated free radical polymerization (NMP), atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization (RAFT), single electron transfer-living radical polymerization (SET-LRP), single electron transfer-nitroxide radical coupling reaction (SET-NRC), cationic ring opening polymerization (CROP), anionic ring opening polymerization (AROP), and metal catalyzed ring opening polymerization are described, highlighting their mechanistic details and their synthetic potential as well as their limitations. The final part of the article is dedicated to a special type of unimolecular, monodisperse nanocarriers - the dendrimers. Both divergent and convergent approaches to dendrimer synthesis are described along with the therapeutic applications taking advantage of the unique branched tree-like globular structure of dendrimers to treat cancer.

Depolymerizable, adaptive supramolecular polymer nanoparticles and networks

Depolymerizable polymers are appended with supramolecular cross-linking motifs to enable preparation of tunable single-chain polymeric nanoparticles and degradable polymer networks.