| POLYMERS@Vol.60@No.1 |
| >> Chinese | >> English | >> Japanese | >> Korean |
COVER STORY
Turning Points in a Researchers Life |
| COVER STORY: Highlight Reviews |
| Biophysical Chemistry | Shohei INOUE |
| <Abstract> This
is the research subject of Kazutomo Imahori written by the author in
his book entitled eOptical Rotationf. Biophysical Chemistry literally
means a field of physical chemistry specializing in biological substances. However, the combination of the three major fields of natural science is considered to imply the intention of the author not to limit the subject to a specific field of physical chemistry, but to place interest in natural science in general. I was much impressed by this implication and this has profoundly influenced on my later research. Keywords: Physical Chemistry / Biology / Natural Science |
| Top of the Page£ |
| Foundations of a Research Life | Tisato KAJIYAMA |
| <Abstract> Three important research capabilities, gAbility for Observation and Inspectionh, gAbility for Seeking and Penetrationh and gAbility for Developmenth are fostered through our various scientific experiences being encountered during our research studies, Therefore, in order to acquire these abilities, it is essential to have formative experiences and significant influences at an early stage of our scientific research life. |
| Top of the Page£ |
| Approach to Affinity Latex | Haruma KAWAGUCHI |
| <Abstract> There
are two symbolic articles, Herkins's paper and Smith & Ewart's paper,
to show the dawn in the science of polymer latex. After concentrated
studies on the mechanism and kinetics of particle-forming polymerization
such as emulsion polymerization and dispersion polymerization, researchers'
interest was focused on functional polymer particles. Around the year
1980th, two great polymer scientists, Profs. Rembaum and Ugelstad,
stimulated us by publishing exciting papers on biomedical applications
of latex
particles. On the occasion of Profs. Rembaum and Ugelstad's visit to
Japan, I escorted them between Tokyo and Fukui (venue of 2nd Symposium
on Polymeric Microspheres) and could experience firsthand their personality
which made a great impression on me. This encounter encouraged me to
challenge the study on biomedical polymer particles. After a meeting
with Hiroshi Handa, professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology, we felt
challenged to develop a new era of latex particles, that is, affinity
latex, which was used for bioseparation, diagnosis, and bioassay. Keywords: Emulsion Polymerization / Polymer Particle / Functional Microsphere / Affinity Latex |
| Top of the Page£ |
| When I First Met Sir Sam | Masao DOI |
| <Abstract> I
first met Sir Sam at his office at High Holborn where he was working
as a chairperson of the Science Research Council. Within the limited
time allotted for me, he explained to me 7 problems, which he was interested
in at that time. All were quite fascinating and stimulated my imagination.
However, I was not able to solve any of them until I started working
on a different problem. Among many things that Sir Sam gave me, I now
think what was the most valuable to me. Keywords: S. F. Edwards / Entanglement / Doi-Edwards Theory |
| Top of the Page£ |
| Macromolecular Recognition | Akira HARADA |
| <Abstract> While
we were studying interactions of various polymers with cyclodextrins(CDs),
we found that CDs form inclusion complexes with some polymers with high
selectivity. Polyrotaxanes in which many cyclodextrins (CDs) are entrapped
on a polymer chain were (accidentally) obtained by capping each end of
the polymer chain of the complex of a-CDs with poly(ethylene glycol)
using bulky stopper groups. Polyrotaxanes have been investigated by many
researchers. We have developed supramolecular
polymers, molecular machines, artificial polymerases, muscles, and energy
conversion systems. Keywords: Macromolecular Recognition / Cyclodextrin / Polyrotaxane / Molecular Tube / Molecular Machine / Artificial Polymerase / Artificial Muscle |
| Top of the Page£ |
| Some Encounters and Surface Forces Measurement | Kazue KURIHARA |
| <Abstract> This
note describes the background and special encounters which promoted the
shift of the author's research to the surface forces measurements from
the biomimetic design of functional systems using molecular assemblies. Keywords: Surface Forces Measurement / Molecular Assemblies / Nano-Technology / Precision Technology |
| Top of the Page£ |
| You Never Can Serve Companies | Yushu MATSUSHITA |
| <Abstract> Before
I became a graduate student, I met a very glamorous person, the departed
Prof. Teruo Fujimoto, who is my lifetime hero. I was taught anionic polymerization
techniques in a fundamental course by him. My thesis work was on gPreparation
of Triblock Copolymers of the ABC Type and Their Propertiesh and I keep
doing research in this field since more than thirty years, thanks to
Prof. Fujimoto, who died suddenly twenty years ago. In this short note,
I would like to stress on the importance of the chance to meet life-changing
role models rarely happens in our long life. Keywords: Lifetime Hero / Attractive Character / Anionic Polymerization / ABC Triblock Copolymer |
| Top of the Page£ |
| Think of Opportunity Instead of Security | Mizuo MAEDA |
| <Abstract> We
have prepared DNA nanoparticles with a nanometer-sized vinyl polymer
core or a colloidal gold core surrounded by a single-stranded DNA corona.
The DNA nanoparticles disperse completely in an aqueous medium. Interestingly,
when complementary single-stranded DNA is added to form the fully matched
double helix on the surface, the DNA nanoparticles become unstable and
spontaneously form aggregates. Furthermore, we have found that the double-stranded
DNA-carrying nanoparticles acquire high colloidal stability when a terminal
single-base mismatch exists at the interface between the DNA corona and
the disperse medium. The findings have been made at Kyushu University
and at RIKEN. Moving always brought me opportunities to meet highly-motivated
and -talented colleagues. Exploiting the unique colloidal behavior of
the DNA nanoparticles, we have devised a facile single-nucleotide polymorphism
genotyping method. Keywords: DNA / Double Strand / Single-Base Mismatch / Graft Copolymer / Polymer Colloid / Gold Nanoparticle / Genotyping |
| Top of the Page£ |
| Looking Back on My Research Life c | Hiroshi WATANABE |
| <Abstract> I
was able to deepen my research in the field of rheology when I dropped
out of PhD course at Osaka University to get employed at that university,
when I studied abroad as a post-doc fellow, and when I moved to Kyoto
University as an associate professor. These turning points were utterly
owing to the support from many friends, and I cordially appreciate their
kindness. Keywords: Research / Turning Point / οËÑ¿ ÏÃÇ / Support & Kindness |
| Top of the Page£ |
| Experience of Serendipity in Polymer Research | Isaburo FUKAWA |
| <Abstract> Reviewing
research on and serendipity in discoveries of polymers in Asahikasei
Corporation, such as synthetic elastomer, polyethylene, polyetherketone
and polycarbonate. Keywords: Polyetherketone / Polycarbonate / Non-Phosgene / Serendipity |
| Top of the Page£ |
| Malaria Control and a Sunset | Takaaki ITOH |
| <Abstract> I
have been engaged in malaria control research for more than 20 years
and was able to contribute to developing a long lasting insecticidal
net, called gOlyset neth, an effective tool for malaria control. At
my childhood, I longed to see a sun setting in the Indian Ocean. At the
beginning of my research, I came to know about the existence of malaria
infections in Saudi Arabia and immediately related a sunset in the desert
with the sunset in the Indian Ocean. Since then, I delightfully decided
to pursue malaria control as my lifelong work. Keywords: Malaria / Olyset / Mosquito / Net |
| Top of the Page£ |
| My Passion for the Fluorene | Mitsuaki YAMADA |
| <Abstract> Ifve
been sticking at fluorene chemistry throughout my 23-year's business
career. Thanks to support from people around me, fluorene chemicals have
grown up to a certain scale of business. I hope introducing my exciting
experience with fluorene will be helpful to the readers. Keywords: Fluorene / BPEF |
| Top of the Page£ |
| Growing Polymers: A Personal Account |
| Like a Living Polymer | Zhengguo CAI |
| <Abstract> This personal account reviews my research experiences with development and application of stereospecific living polymerization of hydrocarbon monomers. |
| Top of the Page£ |
| Towards a Facile Approach gSimple is Besth | Shinji SUGIHARA |
| <Abstract> I have prepared various self-associations using precision polymerization such as living cationic polymerization, ATRP, and RAFT dispersion polymerization. Along the way, I have been pursuing gsimple and facileh polymerizations and the resulting associations. This personal account, Growing Polymers, reviews such my research experiences. |
| Top of the Page£ |
| Front-Line Polymer Science |
| Smectic Liquid Crystal Formed from Hard-Rod Polymers | Kento OKOSHI and Junji WATANABE |
| <Abstract> Liquid
crystal phases formed by hard-rod polymers have been studied extensively
in both theoretical and experimental ways. In the initial stage of studies,
it has been shown that a system of long hard molecules can exhibit an
orientational ordered nematic phase if the density is efficiently high.
Recently, computer simulation has played an important role in understanding
the liquid crystalline behavior of systems composed of hard-rod molecules,
and given the first indication that the smectic and columnar phases can
also be formed by systems of molecules which interact through excluded
volume interaction alone. In fact, the experimental studies carefully
done for hard-rod polysilane in a thermotropic system have clarified
the well-defined phase sequence including nematic and smectic phases.
These will be reviewed in this article. Keywords: Hard-Rod Polymer / Excluded Volume Effect / Polysilane / Nematic Liquid Crystal / Smectic Liquid Crystal |
| Top of the Page£ |
| Copyright(C) 2011 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan All Rights Reserved. |