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Supramolecular glass is a non-covalently cross-linked amorphous material that exhibits excellent optical properties and unique intrinsic structural features. Compared with artificial inorganic/organic glass, which has been extensively developed, supramolecular glass is still in the infancy stage, and itself is rarely recognized and studied thus far. Herein, we present the development of the host–guest molecular recognition motifs between methyl-β-cyclodextrin and para-hydroxybenzoic acid as the building blocks of supramolecular glass. Non-covalent polymerization resulting from the host–guest complexation and hydrogen bonding formation enables high transparency and bulk state to supramolecular glass. Various advantages, including recyclability, compatibility, and thermal processability, are associated with dynamic assembly pattern. Short-range order (host–guest complexation) and long-range disorder (three dimensional polymeric network) structures are identified simultaneously, thus demonstrating the typical structural characteristics of glass. This work provides a supramolecular strategy for constructing transparent materials from organic components. Strategies to produce supramolecular glass and the study of its intrinsic structure and mechanical properties remains largely unexplored. Here, the authors prepare a supramolecular glass via the host–guest recognition between methyl-β-cyclodextrin and para-hydroxybenzoic acid with recyclability, compatibility, and thermal processability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the bottom‐up assembly in nature, an artificial self‐assembly pattern is introduced into 3D‐fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing to achieve additive manufacturing on the macroscopic scale. Thermally activated polymerization of thioctic acid (TA) enabled the bulk construction of poly(TA), and yielded unique time‐dependent self‐assembly. Freshly prepared poly(TA) can spontaneously and continuously transfer into higher‐molecular‐weight species and low‐molecular‐weight TA monomers. Poly(TA) and the newly formed TA further assembled into self‐reinforcing materials via microscopic‐phase separation. Bottom‐up self‐assembly patterns on different scales are fully realized by 3D FDM printing of poly(TA): thermally induced polymerization of TA (microscopic‐scale assembly) to poly(TA) and 3D printing (macroscopic‐scale assembly) of poly(TA) are simultaneously achieved in the 3D‐printing process; after 3D printing, the poly(TA) modes show mechanically enhanced features over time, arising from the microscopic self‐assembly of poly(TA) and TA. This study clearly demonstrates that micro‐ and macroscopic bottom‐up self‐assembly can be applied in 3D additive manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pillar[n]arenes were rarely used as the building blocks for supramolecular adhesives. Herein, pillar[5]arene-based supramolecular polymer materials with tough adhesion behaviours on different substrates were prepared, with adhesion strengths up to 4.75 MPa. Strong and long-term dichloromethane-resistant adhesion performances were successfully obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of new strategies for supramolecular self‐assembly can significantly impact the properties and/or functions of supramolecular polymers. To realize a facial strategy for the development of solvent‐free supramolecular polymers in bulk, "deep eutectic solvents" were employed. Cyclodextrins and natural acids were used to prepare deep eutectic supramolecular polymers (DESPs). Deep eutectic solvents have special characteristics that endow DESPs with unique macroscopic properties and excellent processability. DESPs exhibit supramolecular adhesion and temperature‐dependent behavior originating from the combined effects of deep eutectic solvents and supramolecular polymerization. Because DESPs are solvent‐free and display interesting macroscopic properties, they have potential as new adaptive materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The aqueous two‐phase extraction (ATPE) based on organic solvent and inorganic salt was considered a promising method in the extraction, enrichment, and purification field. Ionic liquids (ILs) used as additives to the aqueous two‐phase system (ATPS) can improve the extraction yield. RESULTS: In this study, seven ILs were added to the ethanol/ammonium sulfate ATPS and used for the salting‐out extraction (SOE) of sinomenine from Sinomenium acutum. The IL [C2OHmim]FeCl4 was screened as the optimal additive, then the influencing factors IL amount, ethanol concentration, salt concentration, and temperature were investigated. The maximum extraction efficiency of 96.4% was obtained under the following conditions: 23.06 wt% ethanol concentration, 27.28 wt% (NH4)2SO4 concentration, 4.0 wt% [C2OHmim]FeCl4 and 40°C temperature. Moreover, the components in the SOE system can be recycled after extraction. CONCLUSION: Thus, this ATPS had lower cost and higher extraction ability, and it is feasible to scale up using a small amount of ILs. This system can also be used in the extraction of some other important active compounds from natural plant resources. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytotoxicity studies are important tools for the assessment of the toxicity of ionic liquids (ILs). In the present study, the cytotoxicity of eleven ILs against Spodoptera frugiperda 9 ( Sf-9 ) cell lines were evaluated via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. The effect on cellular morphology, ultrastructural morphology, and nuclear morphology induced by 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C 2 mim][Br]) was studied via inverted light microscopy observation, acridine orange staining, and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis, respectively. The effect on cell DNA fragmentation, cell apoptosis and cell cycle induced by [C 2 mim][Br] was also investigated via DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The results showed that the cytotoxic effect of ILs on Sf-9 cells was related to the IL structures, concentrations, and length of exposure. The morphological features of apoptosis induced by [C 2 mim][Br] such as cell shrinkage and convolution, apoptotic bodies, pyknosis, and karyorrhesis were observed. All these phenomena confirmed that Sf-9 cells exposed to [C 2 mim][Br] died via apoptosis. This study complements the current knowledge about the cytotoxic properties of ILs on insect cells and highlights the mechanism by which ILs kill these cells. Furthermore, it provides a basis for further studies on the future applications of ILs as insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: deep eutectic solvents; materials science; polymers; self-assembly; supramolecular chemistry EN deep eutectic solvents materials science polymers self-assembly supramolecular chemistry 5600 5600 1 03/03/21 20210308 NES 210308 In this Communication, the description of a preparation method was unclear and misleading. Deep eutectic solvents, materials science, polymers, self-assembly, supramolecular chemistry In the left column on page 11872, the sentence "Deep eutectic supramolecular polymers ( B DESP b s) based on cyclodextrins were prepared by simply heating the mixtures of cyclodextrins and natural acids" should be amended to read "Deep eutectic supramolecular polymers ( B DESP b s) based on cyclodextrins were prepared by simply heating the aqueous solutions of cyclodextrins and acids. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: deep eutectic solvents; materials science; polymers; self-assembly; supramolecular chemistry EN deep eutectic solvents materials science polymers self-assembly supramolecular chemistry 5660 5660 1 03/03/21 20210308 NES 210308 In this Communication, the description of a preparation method was unclear and misleading. In the left column on page 11970, the sentence "Deep eutectic supramolecular polymers ( B DESP b s) based on cyclodextrins were prepared by simply heating the mixtures of cyclodextrins and natural acids" should be amended to read "Deep eutectic supramolecular polymers ( B DESP b s) based on cyclodextrins were prepared by simply heating the aqueous solutions of cyclodextrins and acids. Materials science, polymers, self-assembly, supramolecular chemistry, deep eutectic solvents. [Extracted from the article]

A supramolecular polymer is prepared by tristerpyridine ligand and metal ion Zinc coordination. When the supramolecular polymer is dissolved in acetonitrile, a metallo-gel can be obtained at a very low monomer concentration (< 1.0 wt%). Remarkably, this metallo-gel exhibits rapid self-healing ability and excellent elasticity with high recovery. [Display omitted] • Coordination gelation was observed at very low monomer concentrations, indicating gel- A /Zn2+ was a highly potential supergelator. • The supramolecular gel exhibited a great macroscopic self-healing ability. • A good elastic behavior was observed from gel- A /Zn2+. Self-healing and elasticity are assiduously pursued qualities for substrate materials which are applicable in many fields such as wearable electronic devices, touch screens, and soft robotics. Up to now, the most reported self-healing and elastic gel materials were constructed by supramolecular polymers with covalent backbones. Herein, a supramolecular gel- A /Zn2+ was built based on supramolecular polymerization through terpyridine-Zn2+ coordination. Importantly, this metallo-gel exhibits the self-healing ability. In addition, a freshly prepared metallo-gel ball with a diameter of 1.0 cm could rebound back with 89.6 % recovery from free-drop which displayed excellent elasticity. Superb features of gel- A /Zn2+ including self-healing ability, elasticity and hydrophilia provide prospects for high-performance adaptive materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]