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Stimulus-responsive polymers have been used in improving the efficacy of medical diagnostics through different approaches including enhancing the contrast in imaging techniques and promoting the molecular recognition in diagnostic assays. This review overviews the mechanisms of stimulus-responsive polymers in response to external stimuli including temperature, pH, ion, light, etc. The applications of responsive polymers in magnetic resonance imaging, capture and purification of biomolecules through protein–ligand recognition and lab-on-a-chip technology are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen-bonded arene ruthenium metalla-rectangle, [(p-cymene)2Ru2(OO⌒OO)(UPy)2]24+, obtained from 1-(4-oxo-6-undecyl-1,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-yl)-3-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)urea (UPy) and the dinuclear arene ruthenium clip (p-cymene)2Ru2(OO⌒OO)Cl2 (OO⌒OO = 2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzoquinonato), is investigated by means of solution-phase NMR spectroscopy. Rotating frame nuclear Overhauser effect measurements are used to probe the H-bond network that drives the UPy self-assembly as well as the full rectangular supramolecular system. An effective distance that takes into account both intra- and intermolecular polarization-transfer pathways is utilised for data analysis. The experimental findings are corroborated by DFT calculations of NMR parameters and internuclear distances, thus confirming the formation of a very stable tetranuclear metalla-assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]