Supramolecular advanced materials

Controlling the size, shape and ordering of synthetic organic materials at the macromolecular and supramolecular levels is an important objective in chemistry. Such control may be used to improve specific advanced material properties. Initial efforts to control dendrimer shapes involved the use of appropriately shaped core templates upon which to amplify dendritic shells to produce either dendrimer spheroids or cylinders (rods). The first examples of covalent dendrimer rods were reported by Tomalia et al. [43] and Schluter et al. [44], These examples involved the reiterative growth of dendritic shells around a preformed linear polymeric backbone or the polymerization of a dendronized monomer to produce cylinders possessing substantial aspect ratios (i.e. 15-100) as observed by TEM and AFM. These architectural copolymers consisting of linear random... 

The demand for advanced materials with superior mechanical, thermal, electrical, optical, magnetic, electro-optical, and electromagnetic properties is ever increasing. Most advanced materials, until recently, have been formed empirically by solid state methods. Further progress in the generation of advanced materials with preselected properties demands innovative chemical tailoring and, thus, a fundamental understanding of interactions and reactions at atomic, molecular, and supramolecular levels. 

Although the science of molecular photochemistry remains very active, there is no doubt that in the future photochemists will focus increasingly on supramolecular chemical structures and arrays. This trend is a natural progression as the science of photochemistry meets the demands of new technologies based on advanced materials and as the ability increases to probe complex (photo)biologi-cal processes at the molecular level. 

The synthesis of well-defined macromolecular structures with controlled properties is critical for the production of advanced materials for biological and industrial applications. Inspired by nature s ability to create proteins with exquisite control, we focus on the applications of elastin and elastin-derived polymers for materials design. The elucidation of elastin biochemical, conformational and physical properties offers insight into the fabrication of novel biomaterials. As part of this review, we highlight some of the recent advances that permit the generation of customized elastin-based polymers. These developments provide an added level of control vital to the future construction of tailor-made supramolecular structures with emergent physical, mechanical and biological properties. 

Liquid crystals (LCs) combine order and mobility on a molecular level and are important both in material and life science [1-9]. Different liquid crystalline phases have provided new methods for the design of supramolecular materials [10-13]. Nematic phases have found widely commercial applications as displays for computers and telecommunications [14], lamellar, coltrmnar, micellar, and bicontinuous cubic phases and even more complicated new phases have also found wide applications as advanced materials [12, 15-17]. 

The Advanced Materials Series provides recent advancements of the fascinating field of advanced materials science and technology, particularly in the area of structure, synthesis and processing, characterization, advanced-state properties, and applications. The volumes will cover theoretical and experimental approaches of molecular device materials, biomimetic materials, hybrid-type composite materials, functionalized polymers, supramolecular systems, information- and energy-transfer materials, biobased and biodegradable or environmental friendly materials. Each volume will be devoted to one broad subject and the multidisciplinary aspects will be drawn out in full. 

The extraordinary properties of the biopolymers are due to their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. Synthetic polymers are also attractive because they can be fabricated into various shapes with desired pore morphologic features conducive to tissue in-growth. Furthermore, the polymers can be designed with chemical functional groups that can induce tissue in-growth [402]. Polysaccharides have a surprising ability for stracture formation by supramolecular interactions, and, because of this ability, they can be used to modify advanced materials. 

Klok, H.A. and Fecommandoux, S. (2(X)1) Supramolecular materials via block copolymer self-assembly. Advanced Materials, 13,1217. 

Pedireddi, V. R. Shimpi, M. R. Yakhmi, J. V. (2005). Room-temperature ionic liquids For a difference in the supramolecular synthesis. Indo-French Symposium on Ftbrillar Networks as Advanced Materials, pp. 83-87, Strasbourg, FRANCE, Sep 21-23, Wiley-V C H Verlag Gmbh. 

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