| POLYMERS Vol.73 No.4 |
| >> Japanese | >> English |
COVER STORY
Sugar Renaissance, Polysaccharide reborn |
| COVER STORY: Highlight Reviews |
| Single-Cell Glycan Analysis | Hiroaki TATENO |
| <Abstract> In recent years, rapid progress has been made in the development of technologies to obtain omics information at the single-cell level in order to elucidate complex cell populations. However, it has been difficult to analyze glycans, since they cannot be amplified like nucleic acids by PCR. In this review, we will introduce our recently developed single-cell glycan analysis technology, which is the first of its kind in the world, and discuss the future prospects of single-cell glycan analysis. Keywords: Single-Cell / Glycan / Glycome / Lectin / Next-Generation Sequencing / Glycomics / Multiomics |
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| Development of High-Performance Polysaccharide Composite Materials and Biodegradable Materials | Yu-I HSU, Akihide SUGAWARA, Hiroshi UYAMA |
| <Abstract> General-purpose plastics have become indispensable in daily life, however, they cause social problems such as global warming gas and marine plastic waste. This paper focuses on inexpensive polysaccharides that are extremely abundant in nature as an alternative to general-purpose plastics. Also, we introduce the development of high-performance materials such as porous materials and gels, and marine biodegradable plastics using starch and cellulose. Keywords: Polysaccharides / Starch / Cellulose / Monolith / Gel / Biobased Plastic / Marine Biodegradable |
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| Functional Materials with Glycopolymers | Yoshiko MIURA, Masanori NAGAO |
| <Abstract> Glycopolymers, polymers with sugars in the side chains of polymers, are biobased polymers. Glycopolymers can be synthesized mainly by addition polymerization with the vinyl sugar derivatives, and are unique materials that allow the use of synthetic polymer technology for sugars, which is otherwise difficult to handle. Glycopolymers are useful for the development of water-soluble polymers, amphiphilic polymers, and biofunctional materials. As physical properties, glycopolymers possess physicochemical properties such as water-solubility and amphiphilicity, as well as self-assembling properties. In addition, because of their saccharide-accumulated structure, glycopolymers have strong molecular recognition properties based on the multivalent effect and interact strongly with proteins, cells, pathogens, and other substances. The molecular recognizability can be controlled by precision polymerization and fused with other materials to create bio-devices. Keywords: Glycopolymer / Water Soluble Polymer / Amphiphicity / Self-Assembly / Controlled Polymerization / Molecular Recognition / Biobased Polymer Nanomedicine / Biosensor |
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| COVER STORY: Topics and Products |
| Daicel Develops New Biomass Product Trees | Takashi ARAI |
| <Abstract> This presentation will introduce the new biomass product tree that Daicel is working toward. We are currently developing technology to dissolve biomass and will explain its topics. Keywords: Biomass Product / Cellulose / Precious Metal Adsorbent / Molecular Cellulose Assembly |
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| Molecular Assemblies by Folding of Polysaccharides | Tomoki NISHIMURA |
| <Abstract> Polysaccharides are recognized as the third major biopolymer class, following nucleic acids and proteins. They play indispensable roles in organisms, specifically in energy storage, structural mechanisms, and molecular recognition. Many polysaccharides exhibit their unique functionalities without the need to adopt higher-order structures such as helices or sheets. This distinct characteristic prompts a question: Can we artificially fold these polysaccharides to introduce novel functions? This potential has seen surprisingly little research attention. Addressing this situation, We designed amphiphilic graft polymers with polysaccharides as the hydrophilic chain and hydrophobic polymers as the side chains. Our primary objective was to manipulate the self-assembly and folding of these polysaccharides. This led to the successful development of polymers that not only showcase controlled molecular assemblies but also possess an inherent memory of their self-assembled structure. Keywords: Polysaccharide / Graft Copolymer / Molecular Assembly / Folding |
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| Materials Science for Utilizing Surface Properties of Nanocelluloses | Shingo YOKOTA |
| <Abstract> Cellulose nanofibrils prepared by aqueous counter collision (ACC-CNFs) have amphiphilic properties. This paper describes the function of ACC-CNFs for forming and stabilizing Pickering emulsions. Oil-in-water Pickering emulsions with long-term stabilities were easily prepared by mixing aqueous ACC-CNF dispersions with non-polar solvents. Stable Pickering emulsions were obtained because the emulsification abilities of the ACC-CNF were significantly higher than those of cellulose nanofibrils prepared by high-pressure homogenization or other chemical preparation methods. The stability of the Pickering emulsions was sensitive to the solvent properties such as permittivity, density and viscosity. Furthermore, this paper shows the control of the surface properties of ACC-CNFs by facile acetylation or selective surface modification at the oil/water interfaces of a Pickering emulsion. Keywords: Cellulose Nanofibrils / Amphiphilicity / Surface/Interface / Pickering Emulsion / Chemical Modification |
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| Thermoplastic Materials by Acylation of Chitin | Jun-ichi KADOKAWA |
| <Abstract> The author recently found that mixed chitin esters, chitin benzoate stearates, exhibited thermoplasticity. Efficient acylation methods of chitin using acyl chlorides in ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been established to obtain chitin ester derivatives with high degrees of substitutions. The methods were further extended to obtain mixed chitin esters having plural acyl substituents. Accordingly, the above chitin benzoate stearates were synthesized by the acylation of chitin using benzoyl and stearoyl chlorides in the presence of pyridine and N,N-dimethyl-4-aminopyridine in an IL, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide. Powder X-ray diffraction measurement of the products suggested that the benzoyl/stearoyl substituent ratios affected the crystalline structures of the chitin main-chains and stearoyl side-chains. Introduction of a small ratio of benzoyl groups to stearoyl groups contributed to enabling stearoyl side-chains to form controlled parallel arrays and disrupting the intrinsic chitin crystals. The products exhibited melting points, derived from regular stearoyl packings, and formed melt-pressed films, indicating their thermoplasticity. Keywords: Acylation / Chitin Benzoate Stearate / Ionic Liquid / Melt-Pressed Film / Mixed Chitin Ester / Thermoplasticity |
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| Polymer Science and I: A Personal Account |
| Struggle with Time Performance Syndrome | Atsushi MATSUMOTO |
| <Abstract> Time performance syndrome is an expression I created to express the mental condition of people who get obsessive about time-effectiveness. In this column, I will introduce my academic life connected to the aspect of “time performance syndrome”. |
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| Front-Line Polymer Science |
| Polymers and Inorganic Nanocrystals: Patterning Nanocrystals using Photopolymerization | Hideyuki NAKANISHI |
| <Abstract> Recent advances in colloid synthesis have led to the generation of a wide variety of metal and semiconductor nanocrystals with desired sizes, shapes, and compositions. These nanocrystals exhibit unique electronic, optical, magnetic, and catalytic properties. Furthermore, nanocrystals also have the practical advantage of being easily extended to other materials using dispersion methods based on inexpensive low-temperature techniques. Due to these favorable features, nanocrystals have been intensively studied, and efforts have been made to mix them with polymers in order to develop superior properties and functions. Patterning is particularly necessary for the effective use of luminescent or conductive nanocrystals, and conventional techniques such as photolithography and inkjet printing have been applied for nanocrystal patterning. We have been studying materials related to polymers and inorganic nanocrystals, and in the process, have recently developed new types of patterning techniques. In this review, we focus on perovskite quantum dots, which are emerging nanocrystals with superior properties, and introduce our patterning method. Keywords: Photocuring / Polymerization / Trommsdorff-Norrish Effect / Nanocrystals / Perovskite Quantum Dots / Patterning / Inorganic Materials / Polymer Films |
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