-
New Study Solving the Puzzle of Polymers Binding to Ice for Biological Cryopreservation
Understanding the ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity of antifreeze biomimetics is critical to the development of next-generation cryoprotectants. Recently, in the paper, The atomistic details of the ice recrystallization inhibition activity of PVA, which is published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Warwick have found that, contrary to the emerging consensus, shorter or longer polymer chains of poly(vinyl)alcohol (PVA) all bind to ice. In this study, the researchers bring together molecular dynamics simulations and quantitative experimental measurements to unravel the microscopic origins of the IRI activity of poly(vinyl)alcohol (PVA)—the most potent of biomimetic IRI agents. Contrary to the emerging consensus, the team find that PVA does not require a “lattice matching” to…
-
Researchers Stabilize the Collapsing Metal-organic Frameworks by Adding a Polymer
High internal surface area is a highly sought after asset in material design, bringing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) at the forefront of materials research. In fact, the main focus in this field is to create innovative methods to maximize the surface area of the MOF. Nevertheless, macroporous MOFs, especially those with mesopores, still face the problem of pore collapse during activation. In a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the researchers have solved this problem by adding a small amount of polymer to the MOF pores, which prevents the pores from collapsing. MOFs are a special kind of sponge-like materials with nano-scale pores which have many applications, such as carbon capture…
-
Two Recent Research Progress on Polymers
Sugar-Based Polymers from d-Xylose: Living Cascade Polymerization, Tunable Degradation, and Small Molecule Release Biodegradable bio-based polymers provide options for chemical recycling, and they can be used for storing and releasing useful molecules. Scientist Tae-Lim Choi and colleagues from Seoul National University, South Korea, have developed a class of sugar-based polymers that can be degraded by acid hydrolysis. The researchers also integrated “cargo” molecules in the polymer, which are designed to break apart after the polymer degrades. The study, published in the journal Angewandte Chemie, stated that degradable cargo polymers are very important for medical and sensor applications. In this study, enyne monomers derived from D-xylose underwent living cascade polymerizations to prepare…
