Polymer Journal最新文献

{"title":"Quantitative characterization of the interfacial failure of metallic coatings on epoxy substrates in salty atmospheres","authors":"Zhichao Jiang, Yi Ding, Zhibin Chen, Biao Zuo","doi":"10.1038/s41428-025-01062-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-025-01062-4","url":null,"abstract":"Although a multilayered metallic coatings on epoxy surfaces can enhance material performance, under acidic and salty conditions, such as sweat, the coatings usually delaminate from polymer surfaces. Therefore, we investigated the interfacial failure of a Ni/Ag/Ni coating on an epoxy surface after long-term exposure to salt spray air or artificial sweat containing abundant Cl− ions. Cross-sectional atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to probe the changes in the interfacial morphologies and depth profiles of the chemical composition, respectively, to elucidate the mechanism by which Ni/Ag/Ni trilayered coatings delaminate from epoxy substrates in Cl−-containing atmospheres. The results revealed that Cl− ions penetrated through the epoxy, diffused into the metal–polymer interface, and dissolved the Ni layer at the epoxy surface, detaching the metallic layer from the polymer surface. In response to the failure mechanism mentioned above, we propose that by partially replacing the Ni primer layer with Ni2O3, which is inert in acidic Cl− atmospheres, the Ni2O3/Ni/Ag/Ni coating strongly resists corrosion in salt spray air and possesses good long-term interfacial bonding under acidic Cl− atmospheres. The mechanism of interfacial failure of Ni/Ag/Ni coating on epoxy surface after long-term treatment in air of artificial sweat were evaluated by cross-section AFM and XPS depth profiling. It was revealed that Cl ions penetrate the epoxy substrate, diffuse into metal-polymer interface and dissolve the primer Ni layer, resulting a delamination of metal coating from epoxy substrate. A Ni₂O₃ layer was introduced to construct the Ni₂O₃/Ni/Ag/Ni structure, which exhibits superior interfacial bonding performance in acidic Cl− atmosphere.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"57 9","pages":"1015-1023"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-025-01062-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144990845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Photocrosslinked films composed of polydimethylsiloxane bearing alicyclic epoxy units and their CO₂-selective permeation properties","authors":"Shiori Hashiguchi, Masahiko Kawata, Takeo Nakano, Kimihiro Matsukawa, Masashi Kunitake","doi":"10.1038/s41428-025-01052-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-025-01052-6","url":null,"abstract":"Various crosslinked PDMS films incorporating cyclic epoxy groups were prepared by UV-induced acid generation and thermal curation and evaluated as CO₂-selective permeable membranes. These free-standing, ultrathin PDMS films (~100 nm thick) were formed by crosslinking side-epoxy-PDMS, which contains multiple epoxy groups, and end-epoxy-PDMS, which has epoxy groups at the polymer ends only. Gas permeation tests revealed that the films crosslinked with end-epoxy-PDMS exhibited high CO₂ permeance. Specifically, the membrane composed of UV-crosslinked end-epoxy-PDMS (Mn = 20,000, thickness ~ 200 nm) achieved a CO₂ permeance of 5200 GPU and a CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 11.0. Reducing the membrane thickness increased the permeance without affecting selectivity. However, shortening the siloxane chain, using side-epoxy-PDMS, or reducing the linker length led to decreases in both permeance and selectivity. For example, side-epoxy-PDMS (Mn = 30,000, Si-H/O-Si-O ratio = 37%, thickness ~ 200 nm) had a CO₂ permeance of 400 GPU and a CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 1.16. These results indicate that a lower crosslinking density and longer end-epoxy-PDMS siloxane chains are advantageous for CO₂ dissolution and diffusion, resulting in superior CO₂ permeance and selectivity compared with composed of side-epoxy-PDMS. UV-crosslinked PDMS membranes with site-selective alicyclic epoxy units exhibited outstanding CO₂ permeance and selectivity. By comparing end- and side-functionalized PDMS structures, we reveal that low crosslinking density and long siloxane chains favor CO₂ diffusion. Ultrathin (~100 nm), freestanding films fabricated via photoacid-induced curing achieved a CO₂ permeance of up to 5200 GPU with a CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 11.0. This study demonstrates the potential of molecularly engineered siloxane networks for high-performance gas separation, especially in membrane-based direct air capture (m-DAC) applications.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"57 9","pages":"985-994"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-025-01052-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144990815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thermally stable soluble polymers prepared via the tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane-catalyzed polymerization of hydrosilyl-functionalized cage octasiloxane","authors":"Yuto Hongo, Yoshiro Kaneko","doi":"10.1038/s41428-025-01059-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-025-01059-z","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, we successfully prepared soluble polymers via the tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (BCF)-catalyzed hydrosilylation of dimethylhydrosilyl-functionalized cage octasiloxane (DMHS-OS) and acetone, followed by dehydrocarbon condensation polymerization (Piers–Rubinstzajn reaction) between the unreacted hydrosilyl (Si–H) groups and converted isopropoxysilyl (Si–OiPr) groups of DMHS-OS. Notably, polymer Poly(DMHS-OS)-5, formed at a feed molar ratio of Si–H groups to acetone of 8:5, exhibited a relatively high weight-average molecular weight (Mw = 2.11 × 104). On the basis of the 1H NMR, 29Si NMR, and gel permeation chromatography results, Poly(DMHS-OS)-5 consists of approximately 17–18 linked cage octasiloxane repeating units. Despite the presence of alkoxysilyl groups, such as Si–OiPr, in the side chains, immersion in purified water for 1 h did not affect the solubility of the polymer, indicating its good water stability. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the 10% weight loss temperature of Poly(DMHS-OS)-5 was 535 °C and only 21% weight loss occurred at 1000 °C, indicating exceptionally low thermal degradation. These findings highlight the remarkably high thermal stability of the soluble polymer Poly(DMHS-OS)-5. Soluble polymers were prepared by polymerizing dimethylhydrosilyl-functionalized cage octasiloxane (DMHS-OS) using a tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (BCF) catalyst through hydrosilylation with acetone, followed by dehydrocarbon condensation. Poly(DMHS-OS)-5, formed at a feed molar ratio of Si–H groups in DMHS-OS to acetone of 8:5, exhibited a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 2.11 × 104 and consisted of ca. 17–18 linked DMHS-OS units. It demonstrated high thermal stability, with a 10% weight loss temperature (Td10) of 535 °C and a weight loss of only 21% at 1000 °C.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"57 9","pages":"975-984"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144990847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Segregation behavior of a tackifier in styrene-butadiene rubber under a temperature gradient","authors":"Quoc-Viet Do, Masayuki Yamaguchi, Toshio Tada, Vu Anh Doan","doi":"10.1038/s41428-025-01058-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-025-01058-0","url":null,"abstract":"Structure development under a temperature gradient was studied using a miscible blend of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and a tackifier, an oligomeric copolymer comprising mainly styrene and α-methyl styrene (AMS). AMS was found to be miscible with SBR at an AMS content of up to 30 parts per hundred rubber (phr) (23 wt.%) at temperatures below 120 °C. A blend sheet with a thickness of 1 mm was placed in a compression-molding machine, where the top and bottom plates were maintained at different temperatures, such as 120 °C/80 °C and 100 °C/60 °C. After 30 min, the AMS contents on both surfaces were characterized. The AMS content on the low temperature side was high, and vice versa, with no phase separation. Furthermore, the phase diagram of the SBR/AMS blends as a function of the blend composition and temperature was examined. The system was found to show lower critical solution temperature behavior, suggesting that the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter increases with temperature. Therefore, at low temperature, blends containing large amounts of AMB must have a low free energy, which may result in the different compositions of the surfaces after exposure to a temperature gradient. The segregation behavior of Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) and poly(α-methylstyrene) (AMS) under a temperature gradient is investigated in detail. SBR and AMS are found to be miscible at an AMS content of 30 phr (23 wt.%), as confirmed by dynamic mechanical analysis. After treatment under a temperature gradient, AMS is observed to segregate toward the surface exposed to the lower temperature, as detected by Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The underlying mechanism is further elucidated based on the phase diagram of the SBR/AMS system.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"57 9","pages":"1025-1032"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144990843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Natural language processing-based topic models for analyzing trends in polymer science","authors":"Yoshifumi Amamoto, Yoh-ichi Mototake, Takaaki Ohnishi","doi":"10.1038/s41428-025-01060-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-025-01060-6","url":null,"abstract":"Polymer science has enhanced human life for more than 100 years, and numerous scientific papers have been published in this field. Although reviewing overall trends is valuable, manually processing such a large volume of information is difficult. In this study, we captured trends in polymer science by performing an automated analysis of papers using topic-modeling techniques grounded in natural language processing (NLP). We analyzed the titles and abstracts of papers that contained the keyword “polymer” in their titles and were published from 1991–2023, applying latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), singular value decomposition (SVD), and nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) as topic models. This research showed that LDA, SVD, and NMF can capture trends across multiple fields over the past three decades. Accordingly, NLP-based topic models are promising tools for automatically extracting useful information from papers and other textual data in polymer science. Polymer science has enhanced human life for more than 100 years, and numerous scientific papers have been published in this field. In this study, we captured trends in polymer science by performing an automated analysis of the titles and abstracts of papers that contained the keyword “polymer” using topic-modeling techniques grounded in natural language processing (NLP). NLP-based topic models are promising tools for automatically extracting useful information from papers and other textual data in polymer science.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"57 9","pages":"1033-1041"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-025-01060-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144990814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Discovering the micellization of linear A-b-(B-alt-C)2-b-A multiblock terpolymers in selective solvents","authors":"Hsuan-Hung Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41428-025-01053-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-025-01053-5","url":null,"abstract":"The self-assembly of ABC amphiphilic multiblock terpolymers into multicompartment micelles in dilute solutions has gained significant attention. In this study, we employed the three-dimensional (3D) self-consistent field theory (SCFT) method to explore the micellization behavior of amphiphilic linear A-b-(B-alt-C)₂-b-A multiblock terpolymers in a solvent selective for the terminal A block. A variety of intriguing micellar structures were identified, including B- and C-disk segmented vesicles, B- and C-toroidal packing within a tubular structure, BC-segmented toroidal micelles, infinite BC-segmented cylindrical micelles, and BC-mixed toroidal micelles. Owing to the connection of blocks B and C with block A, the segmented arrangement of layers B and C follows the axial direction of the structures. As the volume fraction of the A block (fA) decreases, a structural transition from vesicles to micelles occurs in the linear A-b-(B-alt-C)₂-b-A system, in contrast with the behavior of A(BC)n multiblock terpolymers, which transition from micelles to vesicles. The SCFT method has proven to be an effective tool for identifying molecular architectures with the potential to self-assemble into complex, technologically valuable hierarchical structures. This study systematically explored the micellization of A-b-(B-alt-C)₂-b-A multiblock terpolymers using SCFT, revealing how block composition, interaction strength, and solvent selectivity govern diverse morphologies—including segmented vesicles, toroids, and cylinders. Symmetric and asymmetric solvent conditions yielded distinct BC-segmented structures, while poor solvent conditions led to hierarchical transitions. These insights offer design principles for functional materials like drug carriers by enabling precise control over self-assembled nanostructures.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"57 9","pages":"959-973"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144990858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synthetic nucleic-acid droplets: a bioprogramming platform for designer microliquids","authors":"Hirotake Udono, Tomoya Maruyama, Nathan N. Evangelista, Naoki Yoshida, Yuta Aizaki, Kei Goraku, Kanta Takagi, Ryoya Hasegawa, Masahiro Takinoue","doi":"10.1038/s41428-025-01050-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-025-01050-8","url":null,"abstract":"Research on biomolecular liquid-state condensates (droplets) in cells has sparked burgeoning interest among synthetic biologists in programmable droplets assembled from synthetic nucleic acids––information-encoding biomolecules amenable to facile synthesis, versatile sequence design, and molecular decoration. Analogous to biological condensates, well-engineered nanostructures consisting of DNA or RNA strands, which are negatively charged, phase-separate into membrane-free droplets via weak multivalent specific interactions or via electrostatic attraction with positively charged peptides. The membraneless compartments of these droplets allow stimuli responsiveness to molecular cues (DNA/RNA, enzymes, etc.). Nucleic acid droplets thus offer a powerful platform for programming their various features, including hierarchical structuring, molecular recognition capabilities, droplet interactions, and physical properties. Specifically, we describe a DNA linker that serves as a programmable surfactant bridging immiscible DNA phases, which, upon molecular inputs, alters their separation level from mixed to divided states. Furthermore, a rational combination of these features can create intelligent liquid-state architectures capable of naturally unachievable functions and dynamics, such as Boolean operations and directional motion. To predict how molecular-level encoding leads to macroscopic characteristics, coarse-grained models, which treat nucleic acids as strings of interacting rigid beads, are widely utilized. This emerging field represents a cross-disciplinary integration of various fields, from biophysics to information science. This Focus Review highlights recent advances in synthetic nucleic-acid droplets and their far-reaching potential, concluding with perspectives on their future directions and challenges. Emerging from DNA/RNA nanoengineering, synthetic nucleic-acid liquid condensates, forming via phase separation of nanostructures, have attracted increasing attention as a powerful platform for synthetic biology and molecular computing. Base-sequence specificity allows for molecular encoding for their organization, functions, and droplet interactions. Authors overview key topics of these programmable droplets, from dynamics programmability to numerical modeling. Additionally, this review highlights cross-linker modules, which enable dynamic compartmentalization and division of droplets triggered by specific molecular input. These modules allow the condensate phase behavior to represent Boolean logic operation.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"57 8","pages":"845-862"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-025-01050-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144774174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Free-energy analysis of cosolvent effects on biomolecular aggregation","authors":"Nobuyuki Matubayasi, Tuan Minh Do, Dominik Horinek","doi":"10.1038/s41428-025-01041-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-025-01041-9","url":null,"abstract":"A theoretical-computational scheme for analyzing the effect of an added cosolvent on the aggregation equilibrium of a biomolecule is presented. The scheme is based on the relation that the derivative of the excess chemical potential with respect to the cosolvent concentration is determined by the corresponding derivative of the solvation free energy averaged over the solute configurations. The role of solvation is highlighted in the cosolvent-induced shift in the aggregation equilibrium of a biomolecule, and an illustrative analysis with all-atom models is provided for an amyloid peptide by employing the energy-representation method to compute the solvation free energy. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and urea are adopted as a cosolvent added to water, and the former is seen to inhibit aggregation more effectively than the latter. The solvation free energy is decomposed into the contributions from intermolecular-interaction components such as electrostatic, van der Waals, and excluded-volume, and it is found that the cosolvent effects are governed by the van der Waals interaction for both of ATP and urea. A theoretical-computational scheme is formulated to analyze the shift in the aggregation equilibrium of a biomolecule upon addition of a cosolvent. The cosolvent-induced change in the solvation free energy plays the central role in the formulation, and it is shown for a model peptide that the ATP and urea cosolvents make the solvent environment more favorable for dissociated monomers than for aggregates. The effect of ATP to inhibit aggregation is brought by van der Waals interactions due to cancellation of the electrostatic effects between ATP and water.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"57 8","pages":"773-784"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-025-01041-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144774173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Designable synthetic complex coacervates enabling protein delivery to cells","authors":"Bing Jhang Li, Biplab K C, Teruki Nii, Takeshi Mori, Yoshiki Katayama, Akihiro Kishimura","doi":"10.1038/s41428-025-01043-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-025-01043-7","url":null,"abstract":"Biomolecular condensates offer a versatile platform for the accumulation of biomacromolecules, particularly proteins. This study investigated synthetic complex coacervates as a model of biomolecular condensates and developed a novel tool for the intracellular delivery of proteins to overcome the issues of cytotoxicity and poor cellular uptake. By optimizing preparation conditions and chemical structures and developing a simple pre-coating method, we achieved an improvement in the interaction and internalization of coacervates for HeLa and Jurkat cells and the reduction of cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the use of charge-density reduced polymers enabled the effective encapsulation and intracellular delivery of various proteins. The mechanism of cellular internalization was also investigated, and macropinocytosis was concluded to be a primary internalization pathway. These findings provide a foundation for future advancements in biomaterials. Complex coacervates (CCs) are a promising platform for protein encapsulation obtained via simple mixing of some components. Using the novel precoating treatment of living cells, the cellular internalization of CCs was greatly enhanced. Besides, upon using the side-chain modified aniomers for CC fabrication, a wide variety of proteins were successfully encapsulated, which can expand the future biomedical application of CCs.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"57 8","pages":"911-922"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-025-01043-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144774167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A minimalist design approach to simple coacervates from low-molecular-weight components","authors":"Ryou Kubota","doi":"10.1038/s41428-025-01037-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-025-01037-5","url":null,"abstract":"Coacervates are condensed, liquid-like assemblies formed through liquid–liquid phase separation via associative interactions among molecular components. Owing to their membraneless nature, coacervates exhibit unique dynamic features, such as coalescence and molecular sequestration, thus serving as promising platforms for drug delivery and the regulation of biological events. In this Focus Review, representative examples of simple coacervates composed of phase-separating low-molecular-weight molecules (LMWMs) are highlighted. This review provides a minimalist design strategy for LMWM-based simple coacervates based on surfactants and peptides and summarizes their unique functions, including stimulus-responsive structural transformations. The sophisticated design of these droplets is expected to enable a wide range of applications, including studies on the origins of life, the development of artificial cells, intracellular and in vivo protein delivery, biosensing, and molecular computing. Simple coacervates formed from low-molecular-weight molecules offer unique dynamic features, including stimulus-responsive phase transitions and reversible assembly/disassembly. This Focus Review highlights molecular design strategies, from historical perspectives to recent advancements. The sophisticated design of coacervates provides new opportunities in protocell models, biosensing, and drug delivery systems.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"57 8","pages":"815-829"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-025-01037-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144774176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}