POLYMERS Vol.58　No.9 September 2009
POLYMERS　Vol.58　No.9
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COVER STORY
Polymers with Unique Structures as Biofunctional Materials
Polymer Science and I: A Personal Account
Reason for Being Shoko Sugiyama ONO
<Abstract>I reviewed here my experiences as a researcher in Mitsui Chemicals, Japan and CNRS, France. I found that “identity” is very important in research and is the reason for our being in a company and a society.
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Encounter is Treasure for My Life Tadamasa NEMOTO
<Abstract>This essay describes various encounters throughout my life in laboratories that provided me with precious treasure and pleasure.
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COVER STORY: Highlight Reviews
Peptide Supramolecular Assembly Shunsaku KIMURA, Akira MAKINO, Motoki UEDA and Tatsuya KANZAKI
<Abstract>Molecular organization in the living system, which is crucial for life, is characterized as an energy-dissipative open system. On the other hand, molecular assemblies, which are formed under the concept of supramolecular chemistry originated by Lehn, are formed at or near thermodynamically equilibrated conditions. With an aim to bridge between these two types of molecular organizations, we present a novel idea of structural modules, which are metastable assemblies to connect with other modules under suitable stimulus. A three-way peptide nanotube and a dumbbell-shaped conjugate of peptide nanotube and liposome are introduced as examples for the molecular organization based on the structural module concept.
Keywords: Self-Organization / Supramolecular Chemistry / Dissipative Structure / Nanotube / Helical Peptide / Molecular Assembly / Module
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Dendrimers as Biofunctional Nanocapsules Kenji KONO
<Abstract>Dendrimers are polymers having globular shapes and highly and regularly branched backbones. Dendrimers exhibit various properties that conventional polymers with a linear structure do not have. The unique features of dendrimers make them very attractive as biomaterials. This article focuses on the ability of dendrimers to encapsulate guest molecules. The development of dendrimer-based biomaterials in mind, designs of dendrimers with bio-related functions are described.
Keywords: Dendrimer / Biomaterial / Drug Delivery System / Stimuli-Sensitive / Host-Guest
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A Novel β-1,3-Glucan/Polynucleotide Complex and its Application to Functional Oligonucleotides Delivery Kazuo SAKURAI
<Abstract>Schizophyllan (SPG) is a natural β-(1→3)-D-glucan and can form a complex with polynucleotides. This paper reviews our recent work including structural analysis of the complex with microscopy and computer chemistry, and potential application to a drug delivery system to specifically transport functional oligonucleotides such as antisense DNA and CpG DNA to antigen presenting cells.
Keywords: β-(1→3)-D-glucan / Complex / Polynucleotides / DDS / Dectin-1
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Construction of “Specific” Biointerfaces Takeshi SERIZAWA and Hisao MATSUNO
<Abstract>It is significant to structurally regulate interfaces between artificial materials and organisms. Herein, we introduce novel methods to construct the interfaces by using peptides that specifically bind to the material surfaces. The peptides can be identified by affinity-based selection for the materials from biologically constructed peptide libraries.
Keywords: Biointerface / Interaction / Specificity / Synthetic Polymer / Peptide / Phage Display / Library / Affinity Selection
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Biofunctional Supramolecular Hydrogel Masato IKEDA and Itaru HAMACHI
<Abstract>Supramolecular hydrogel has attracted much attention because of not only its unique self-assembly process and nano-structure but also its diverse functions, which can be installed by precise molecular design. This review introduces recent advances of biofunctional supramolecular hydrogels.
Keywords: Supramolecular Hydrogel / Self-assembly / Biomaterial
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Biomaterials Design Utilizing Dynamic Properties of Polyrotaxanes Nobuhiko YUI
<Abstract>Interlocked structure of cyclic compounds and a linear polymeric chain as seen in polyrotaxanes is very important in the design of biomaterials which can modulate biological interactions. The mobility of cyclic compounds along the chain and/or the dissociation of supramolecular structures by the terminal cleavage can be promising when considering the enhancement of multivalent interaction and possible application for intracellular gene delivery.
Keywords: Polyrotaxane / Cyclodextrin / Polyethylene Glycol / Multivalent Interaction / Gene Delivery
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Front-Line Polymer Science
Viscoelastic Phase Separation: Mechanically Dominated Structural Evolution Hajime TANAKA
<Abstract>Viscoelastic phase separation is commonly observed in dynamically asymmetric mixtures whose components have very different dynamics. Such dynamic asymmetry leads to mechanically dominated pattern evolution and often results in the transient formation of network and cellular structures of the slow-component-rich phase. Materials having such structures are characterized by their lightweight and high mechanical strength, and thus very useful. Here we describe the physical principle of viscoelastic phase separation and its potential applications to the morphological control of materials spanning from soft to hard matter. We note that viscoelastic phase separation is the most general form of phase separation, which covers all the known types of phase separation as its special cases. We also mention an intrinsic link between viscoelastic phase separation and material fracture: Both of them can be regarded as mechanically dominated structural evolution under dynamic asymmetry.
Keywords: Phase Separation / Critical Phenomena / Soft Matter / Dynamic Asymmetry / Pattern Formation / Network Structure / Cellular Structure
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