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The construction of self-assembled nanogels with oligonucleotide double strands as the association points was achieved by grafting short-chain (4-mer and 6-mer) oligonucleotides containing bridged nucleic acids (BNA), an artificial nucleic acid, onto polysaccharides. The oligonucleotide-grafted polysaccharides, composed of oligonucleotides with varying chain lengths, sequences, and BNA substitution numbers, formed nanogels in water, and their aggregation behavior was found to change with temperature.

Thermal and mechanical properties of PMMA were modified through lithium-salt doping, which induces ion–dipole interactions with carbonyl groups. Localized water spots are formed around the ions of the hygroscopic salts in PMMA, and their strain-driven redistribution governs the humidity-responsive ductility. This review integrates these findings with a nonequilibrium constitutive model that captures water migration during deformation, providing a framework for designing PMMA with tunable properties.

Orange-peel-derived carbon dots (OP-CDs) were synthesized via a green pyrolysis route and embedded into poly(vinyl alcohol) to fabricate transparent and flexible UV-blocking films. The PVA@OP-CD films effectively block 100% of UV-C and UV-B radiation while converting the absorbed UV light into visible fluorescence. The composite films exhibit good mechanical flexibility, antioxidant activity, and food preservation performance, demonstrating a sustainable approach for biomass-derived UV-shielding materials suitable for food packaging and protective coatings.

Chitin monoliths were developed as sustainable separation media for continuous-flow protein purification by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). FE-SEM, ATR-FTIR, and mercury intrusion porosimetry confirmed adjustable pore structures controlled by quenching temperature. The monoliths showed good permeability and selective affinity toward lysozyme, enabling efficient separation of lysozyme from ovalbumin under flow conditions. Reusability was demonstrated through multiple adsorption–desorption cycles with high recovery and negligible capacity loss, highlighting the potential of chitin monoliths for efficient and robust protein purification in continuous systems.

Hydration water can be classified into three types: free water, intermediate water, and nonfreezing water. Intermediate water was found in hydrated biopolymers and hydrated biocompatible synthetic polymers. ATR-IR spectroscopy combined with machine learning revealed the power of spectroscopic approaches to link molecular-level hydration to macroscopic polymer properties. Long-range, intermediate water-mediated repulsive forces prevent protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, and overall biocompatibility under physiological conditions. This intermediate water barrier model provides a unified framework for designing biocompatible polymers.

Our article summarizes the results of recent research on the use of soft nanoparticles for delivering nucleic acids to tumor cells for RNA-based therapy. The first part of the article describes advances in the development, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using lipid nanocarriers, and the second part describes the same for polymeric nanocarriers. The third part presents data on ongoing preclinical and clinical trials of soft nanoparticles (June 2025).

Phosphatidylserine (PS)-inspired polymers with systematically varied alkyl structures and copolymer compositions were designed to elucidate their interactions with the PS receptor T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-like domain-containing protein 4 (Tim-4). Alkyl-substituted PS-inspired homopolymers and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-containing copolymers were synthesized. Biolayer interferometry revealed a nonmonotonic dependence on alkyl substitution and a composition-dependent enhancement upon HEMA incorporation. In macrophages, homopolymers did not significantly affect interleukin-6 secretion, whereas HEMA-containing copolymers selectively suppressed IL-6 production, demonstrating that rational copolymer design enables biomaterials to achieve efficient anti-inflammatory immunomodulation.

Polymers with aminodiamondoid units as side groups can be obtained either by direct polymerization of corresponding vinyl monomers or by polymer-analogous reactions. While the polymerization of octenylaminodiamondoids only leads to oligomers because of the bulky substituents, the polymer-analogous reactions of aminodiamondoids with poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) yield polymers with almost quantitative functionalization. These materials are highly attractive for biomedical applications or as template molecules for the synthesis of nanodiamonds.

The preparation and characterization of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with H5N1 antigen using the spray-drying technique is conducted. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, TEM, and zeta potential analysis to evaluate morphology, size, and surface charge. The antigen-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were subsequently assessed for safety and immunological effects in a mouse model, demonstrating their potential as a vaccine delivery system.

Monodisperse poly(acrylic acid) nanoparticles encapsulate doxorubicin at high contents (~44 wt%), forming a single core-localized DOX-rich domain as revealed by SAXS and TEM while retaining spherical morphology. Single-particle fluorescence showed that the fraction of DOX-positive particles increased with loading, reaching 75.8% at 44 wt% DOX. The particles also exhibit strong hydroxyapatite affinity, highlighting their promise as robust, high-capacity carriers for bone-targeted drug delivery and potential treatment of metastatic cancers.

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclic olefins has been widely used in the synthesis of advanced polymeric materials. This mini review introduces the basics of olefin metathesis reactions, especially ROMP, and summarizes reported examples of cis-/trans- (Z-/E-) specific ROMP in which ruthenium-carbene, molybdenum-alkylidene, vanadium-alkylidene, and niobium-alkylidene catalysts were used. cis-/trans-Selective bottlebrush polymers prepared from (arylimido)vanadium(V)-alkylidene catalysts displayed different thermal and emission properties because of their different morphologies and interpolymer and/or intrapolymer interactions.

Nanogels were synthesized with either N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) or poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) monomers. The products also contained 2-aminophenylboronic acid to allow for glucose binding. The size responses to changes in temperature and glucose concentrations were compared. The p(NIPAM) nanogel decreased in size, and the pPEGMA nanogel increased and then decreased in size, with increasing concentrations of glucose.

Bisphosphonate-bearing polymers formed stiff hydrogels in the presence of calcium and zinc ions. These hydrogels exhibited self-healing and stress-thinning properties. Crosslinking these polymers with zinc ions within water-in-oil emulsions yielded hydrogel nanoparticles.

Surface modification of liquid metal microparticles of the eutectic gallium–indium alloy afforded a liquid metal powder containing a small amount of organic components, which can be returned to the bulk liquid metal form by applying mechanical forces. Liquid metal–polymer composites with stimuli-responsive electrical conductivity were readily prepared by manual mixing of the liquid metal powder with polymer precursors. In addition, the liquid metal powder acted as a microwave absorber in the composite materials, thereby inducing microwave heating.

By using a water nanodroplet in a W/O miniemulsion as a nanoreactor, we prepared cellulose-based nanoparticles without chemical modifications such as crosslinking. Gelation of the MC aqueous solution in water nanodroplets was conducted by increasing temperature to create methylcellulose (MC) hydrogel nanoparticles (MC-H). Next, water evaporation from MC-H was performed to prepare MC xerogel nanoparticles (MC-X). The obtained MC-X showed high water resistance and suppressed release of substances due to the strong association of MC chains. In addition, MC-X could be embedded as a biomass-derived filler in the polymer film, maintaining its transparency.

Modification of terminal end groups of PEG altered its antigenicity. Polar terminal end groups effectively reduced recognition by both main-chain-specific and terminal-methoxy-specific anti-PEG IgG antibodies, whereas the nonpolar nC₄H₉ terminal end group was recognized by both types of anti-PEG IgGs. Based on these results, this study proposes a strategy for designing PEG chains that minimize recognition by anti-PEG antibodies and the resulting stable binding.

Double-hydrophilic diblock copolymers, PSB4_n-b-PGalM_m, comprising a polymethacrylate bearing galactose units and a polymethacrylate bearing sulfobetaine groups, exhibited unique miscibility inversions between dilute and concentrated regimes and between block copolymers and blends. These inversions were attributed to concentration-dependent χ_eff and solution-specific driving forces. Aqueous systems with periodically arranged zwitterionic and pyranose units represent a novel class of molecular assemblies resembling cell membranes, featuring arrays of zwitterions and glycocalyxes, and hold promise for the interfacial design of biomaterials.

In this study, a polymer blend with a salami structure with dimensions of several tens of microns was obtained by simultaneously polymerizing polymethacrylate and polyurethane. The methacrylate component of the polymer blend was co-polymerized with hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), which contains a hydroxyl group. The HEMA copolymerization increased the compatibility between the polyurethane and polymethacrylate regions. Consequently, the hard areas within the spherical domains decreased in size, accompanied by a decrease in the differences in composition and refractive index between regions.

A thermoresponsive coacervate enabling the sustained release of micelles and siRNA was developed using an appropriate blend of ABA/AB block copolymers. At room temperature, siRNA-loaded polyion complex (PIC) micelles were dispersed in solution. Upon mild heating ( ≈ 45 °C), they assembled into coacervate microparticles through a reversible phase transition. When maintained at 37 °C, the coacervates continuously and constantly release siRNA and micelles. Biological activities were evaluated using living cells, and cellular uptake and gene knockdown effects were confirmed. This concept highlights a coacervate-based depot platform for siRNA delivery system.