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Ben Zhong Tang Tribute Special Issue
Issue edited by: Zhen Li and Seth Marder
On the occasion of his 60th birthday, the Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer
Chemistry celebrates Ben Zhong Tang, Professor at the Hong Kong University
of Science and Technology and editorial advisory board member, with a tribute
special issue. This collection of quality papers from Ben’s good friends, students,
and colleagues demonstrates his impressive achievements in organic and
polymeric optoelectronic materials made possible by his lab’s discovery of the
photophysical phenomenon aggregation-induced emission (AIE).
DOI: 10.1002/pola.28478
Recent approaches in designing bioadhesive materials
inspired by mussel adhesive protein
Pegah Kord Forooshani and Bruce P. Lee
Marine mussels secret protein-based adhesives, which enable them to anchor to
various surfaces in a saline, intertidal zone. Mussel foot proteins (Mfps) contain
a large abundance of a unique, catecholic amino acid, Dopa, in their protein
sequences. Catechol offers robust and durable adhesion to various substrate
surfaces and contributes to the curing of the adhesive plaques. In this article, we
review the unique features and the key functionalities of Mfps, catechol chemistry,
and strategies for preparing catechol-functionalized polymers.
DOI: 10.1002/pola.28368
Controlling supramolecular polymerization through
multicomponent self-assembly
Pol Besenius
The self-assembly into supramolecular polymers is a process driven by
reversible non-covalent interactions between monomers, and gives access to
materials applications incorporating mechanical, biological, optical or electronic
functionalities. Compared to the achievements in precision polymer synthesis via
living and controlled covalent polymerization processes, supramolecular chemists
have only just learned how to developed strategies that allow similar control over
polymer length, (co)monomer sequence and morphology (random, alternating or
blocked ordering).
DOI: 10.1002/pola.28385
Structural Versatility in Slide-Ring Gels: Influence
of Co-Threaded Cyclodextrin Spacers
Takuya Murakami, Bernhard V. K. J. Schmidt, Hugh R. Brown
and Craig J. Hawker
We describe a one-pot strategy for the fabrication of novel slide-ring (SR) gels
based on supramolecular polyrotaxane structures with cyclodextrin-derived
cross-links and additional free cyclodextrin ring spacers co-threaded onto the
polymer backbones. Photoinitiated thiol-yne click coupling leads to facile hydrogel
fabrication from pseudo-polyrotaxanes prepared in situ from β-cyclodextrin
derivatives and bifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG).
DOI: 10.1002/pola.28490