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An efficient and general synthetic strategy is described for preparing high-molecular-weight hydrophilic polymers bearing both carboxylic acid and hydroxyl pendant groups. Poly(5,6-dihydroxyoxanorbornane carboxylic acid) is prepared by ring-opening metathesis polymerization of methyl 5-oxanorbornene-2-carboxylate in the presence of Grubbs catalyst II and is modified to tune the hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties by introducing either hydroxyl or carboxylic acid functionalities.

New uridine and adenosine phosphocholine amphiphiles are prepared. The dynamics of the recognition and supramolecular assembly formation is visualized in real time at the micrometer scale and is dependent on the nucleobase complementary recognition and the hydrophobic ketal chains.

A geminal phosphonium dication is synthesized and subsequently coordinated with mono-, di- and tetraanions. The strategy using multicationic and multianionic molecules has helped in preparing new supramolecular ionic networks with properties not attainable with current ionic liquids.

The synthesis of peptide dendrons, the formation of cross-linked hydrogels, the analysis of hydrogel physical properties, and the use of these biomaterials to seal a corneal incision are reported. A new in situ polymerizing hydrogel is reported that gels within a few minutes from the multiple thiazolidine linkages formed between the cysteine residues of the dendron and the poly(ethylene glycol) macromers.