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Copyright of Kobunshi Ronbunshu is the property of Society of Polymer Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

It is well known that natural β-1,3-D-glucans take a right-handed 61 triple helix in aqueous solution. Recently, the most stable static models of β-1,3-D-glucans and β-1,3-D-glucan/polynucleotides were calculated by using the molecular orbital method to compare their hydrogen bonds, helical pitch and other structural properties. In this paper, we report the molecular dynamics simulation to understand the behavior of β-1,3-D-glucans and β-1,3-D-glucan/polynucleotides in aqueous solution under ambient pressure and at ambient temperature. The helical pitches of β-1,3-n-glucans and β-1,3-D-glucan/polynucleotides were extended by thermal fluctuation, and the degree of extensibility was strongly affected by the number of side chains attached to the β-1,3-D-glucans. The hydrogen bonds via water molecules between the side chain and the main chain and/or the side chain dominated the extension behavior. The extension of the helical pitch of a β-1,3-D-glucan/polynucleotide complex was constrained by the hydrogen bond between the phosphate groups of the polynucleotide and the hydroxyl groups of the β-1,3-D-glucan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, stimuli-responsive materials are paid much attention by researchers all over the world because they can be used in a very wide range of fields, such as drug delivery systems, sensor systems, actuators and so on. Although various stimuli-responsive materials including supramolecular structures were reported, there are only a few reports about photoresponsive supramolecular materials. One kind of a successful photoresponsive material is the photoresponsive organogel formed by using low molecular weight gelaters (LMWGs). In this research, we present new photoresponsive supramolecular materials by mixing cyclodextrin modified host polymers and azobenzene modified guest polymers. Moreover, we report a new photoswitchable hydrogel including carbon nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]