Recognition of Guest Polymers by Dimeric and Polymeric CDs

The interaction of CD dimers or CD polymers with side chain guest polymers leads to the reversible formation of three-dimensional supramolecular networks, as shown in Fig. 17. 

Gel formation could be switched off either by dilution with water or by addition of monomeric P-CD or guest [190], Several other polymeric systems, with complementary binding sites conjugated to polyacrylic acid [194,203], polyacryl amide [204], and chitosan [205-207] backbones, have been described subsequently, all with similar properties. Compared to regular covalent networks, these noncova-lent, supramolecular networks offer several advantages  

Therefore, these gelling systems based on two components might find interesting applications in the future. These and other CD based gels have been described by Li et al. [208], 

A remarkably different system comprised of a P-CD polymer and a guest polymer was recently described by Gref et al. [209], They mixed aqueous solutions of neutral P-CD epichlorohydrin polymer and a neutral lauryl ester of dextran, both of high molecular weights, and received no macroscopic gels but well-defined and 

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