Self-assembly smart” materials

Keywords Aliphatic polyesters Amphiphilic polymers Polymer micelles Self-assembly Smart materials... 

Rodriguez-Cabello JC, Girotti A, Ribeiro A, Arias FJ (2010) Synthesis of genetically engineered protein polymers (recombinamers) as an example of advanced self-assembled smart materials. In Methods in molecular biology (in press)... 

Secondary recycling, 191,193,194-195 Secondary valence forces, 58 Self-assembly, 216-218 Semicrystalline polymers, 138,140, 154 Sensors for smart materials, 207, 208, 218 Sequence distribution, 28 Serine, 29... 

Smart biocompatible nano materials for self-assembling techniques and self-patterning materials. 

Functional polymers are macromolecules that have unique properties or uses. The properties of such materials are often determined by the presence of chemical functional groups that are dissimilar to those of the backbone chains. Examples are polar or ionic functional groups on hydrocarbon backbones or hydrophobic groups on polar polymer chains. Chemical heterogeneity on the polymer chains can le to enhanced reactivity, phase separation, or association. The ability of functional polymers to form self-assemblies or supramolecular stmctures is a further incentive. When the formation or dissociation of the self-assemblies is triggered by chemical or physical stimuli so called smart materials can result ... 

In the recent past, there have been a number of reports on self-assemblies of molecules as advanced materials or smart materials . Without question, the inspiration for this exciting work comes from the biological world, where, e.g., the lipid bilayer of cell membranes plays a pivotal role. In this cormection it should be stated that many other researchers have also described self-assembling systems such as the liposome. Liposomes are modeled after biomembranes, which have been extensively investigated since the late 1960s (see Table 1 for references). 

Self-Assembly Definition and Kinetic and Thermodynamic Considerations, p. 1248 Self-Assembly in Biochemistry, p. 1257 Soft and Smart Materials, p. 1302 Solvation Effects in Guest Binding, p. 1322 Stability Constants Definition and Determination, p. 1360... 

A smart material is a material that can, in effect, make a decision based on external stimuli. In other words, it is able to sense an external event such as an electrical signal, change in pH, or irradiation, and respond with an action of some kind (change in binding behavior, cooler, conformation, etc.). The ability of supramoiecular chemists to use intermolecular interactions to design and construct soft materials (perhaps via self-assembly) may pave the way to the tailored design of smart materials. The concept has been articulated by Dima Soldatov of the Steacie Institute, Canada, and a wealth of detail is contained in his article in this Encyclopedia (see Soft and Smart Materials). 

Classical Descriptions of Inclusion Compounds, p. 253 Clathrate Hydrates, p. 274 Concepts in Crystal Engineering, p. 319 Crown Ethers, p. 326 Cryptands, p. 334 DNA Nanotechnology, p. 475 Enzyme Mimics, p. 546 The Lock and Key Principle, p. 809 Molecular-level Machines, p. 931 Selectivity Thermodynamic and Kinetic, p. 1225 Self-Assembly Definition and Kinetic and Thermodynamic Considerations, p. 1248 Self-Assembly Terminology, p. 1263 Soft and Smart Materials, p. 1302 Spherands, p. 1344... 

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