Functional Polymer Solutions and Gels–Physics and Novel Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Recent years have seen significant improvements in the understanding of functional soft matter. Advances in organic chemistry have identified a vast variety of possible interactions, ranging from hydrophobic interactions, e.g., based on cyclodextrin or hydrophobic end-capping, host–guest interactions, multiple hydrogen bonding, such as 2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone (UPy) to metal–ligand bonding, such as terpyridines and catechols. Those functional moieties can link polymer-chains, usually in aqueous solution, and thus assemble solutions into gels. These discoveries of the last ca. 30 years by chemists worldwide have made it possible to understand biological soft matter significantly better, as well as to create our own soft materials with tailored properties, such as a pH-controlled behavior. Their current and future applications are often focused on the biomedical field, particularly on drug release and tissue engineering. However, functional polymer solutions and gels can also be envisioned for many other applications. For example, functional nanofibers electrospun from solution can be used for advanced applications as well. The resulting nanofibers combine an incredible high specific surface area with an excellent performance as membranes with high flux, good separator selectivity, as well as extraordinary selective absorption for both functional nanoparticles and pollutants in water.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight the progress and fundamental aspects in the physical properties and applications of functional polymer melts and solutions, as well as of products derived from those. The topics to be included in this Special Issue are on functional polymer solutions and gels of all kinds with respect to understanding their physical properties and/or their application for, e.g., tissue engineering, drug delivery, and functional nanostructures.

Prof. Florian Stadler
Prof. Dr. Bing Du
Guest Editors

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