Xinran Zhao, Jie Zhu, Oushuo Jiang, Chenhan Dai, Dong Wu, Jun Liu, Xiayun Huang, Zhihong Nie
{"title":"Machine-Learning-Guided Design of Soy Protein Isolate Film Mechanics.","authors":"Xinran Zhao, Jie Zhu, Oushuo Jiang, Chenhan Dai, Dong Wu, Jun Liu, Xiayun Huang, Zhihong Nie","doi":"10.1002/marc.70466","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.70466","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soy protein isolate (SPI) films are promising renewable alternatives to petroleum-derived plastics, yet their mechanical properties arise from complex interactions between formulation and processing variables that are difficult to resolve through isolated experiments or empirical models. Here, we establish a machine-learning framework integrating literature-derived data with prospective experiments for the rational design of SPI film mechanics. A curated database was constructed from published studies, and five regression algorithms were evaluated. Extremely randomized trees, random forest, and gradient boosting achieved the best performance for tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break, with random five-fold cross-validation R<sup>2</sup> values of 0.895, 0.835, and 0.673, respectively. Shapely additive explanations (SHAP) analysis identified SPI and plasticizer concentrations as dominant compositional factors, while processing effects were property-dependent. Model-guided experiments then investigated the underexplored coupling between pH and heating temperature at fixed composition. Experiments reproduced broad processing-property trends but revealed reduced predictive accuracy under acidic and high-temperature conditions. Multiscale characterization linked these deviations to pH-dependent protein association, secondary-structure evolution, and network morphology. This literature-to-experiment workflow transforms heterogeneous published data into experimentally testable, mechanistically interpretable design principles for data-guided development of protein-based materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149260004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Targeted HK2 Silencing via Folate-Decorated Core-Shell Tecto-Dendrimers Modulates Glycolysis-Associated Metabolic Processes in Ovarian Cancer Cells.","authors":"Xiaoying Wang, Chang Yuan, Jinchen Wei, Cong Song","doi":"10.1002/marc.70464","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.70464","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ovarian cancer exhibits profound metabolic dependence on aerobic glycolysis, rendering hexokinase 2 (HK2), the rate-limiting enzyme of this pathway, a key therapeutic vulnerability. However, therapeutic exploitation of HK2 silencing remains hindered by the intrinsic instability and inefficient intracellular delivery of siRNA. To overcome these limitations, we developed a folate-functionalized core-shell tecto-dendrimer (FA-G5/G3) capable of selectively targeting HK2 through folate receptor-mediated uptake and intracellular delivery of HK2 siRNA. The engineered nanocomplex exhibited favorable physicochemical properties, including stable architecture, appropriate particle size, and excellent biocompatibility. Following cellular internalization, FA-G5/G3 facilitated intracellular delivery of HK2 siRNA, resulting in effective post-transcriptional silencing of HK2 expression. This intervention disrupted glycolytic metabolism, reduced downstream LDHA expression, and markedly decreased extracellular lactate production. By suppressing a central glycolytic regulator, the FA-G5/G3-mediated HK2 silencing strategy reduced glycolytic activity and provided a potential approach for exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities in ovarian cancer. Collectively, this study establishes a targeted CSTD-based siRNA delivery platform for glycolysis-associated metabolic changes and provides a promising therapeutic strategy for overcoming metabolic vulnerabilities in ovarian cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149259981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Erica Fuoco, Lorenza Spina, Federica Ciuchi, Noemi Baldino, Olga Mileti, Francesca Romana Lupi, Iolinda Aiello, Nicolas Godbert, Eugenia Giorno, Maria Penelope De Santo
{"title":"Micrometric Spherical Confinement of a Luminescent Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Gel.","authors":"Erica Fuoco, Lorenza Spina, Federica Ciuchi, Noemi Baldino, Olga Mileti, Francesca Romana Lupi, Iolinda Aiello, Nicolas Godbert, Eugenia Giorno, Maria Penelope De Santo","doi":"10.1002/marc.70465","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.70465","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Micro-confinement of a filamentous hydrogel has been obtained in a fluid matrix. Microspheres are prepared emulsifying a one-component luminescent lyotropic liquid crystal gel based on an Ir(III) complex in an immiscible polymeric matrix. The distribution of filaments inside microspheres, as a function of the Ir(III) complex concentration in water, and their degree of entanglement changes the interface and viscoelastic properties. By combining lyotropic liquid crystal gels and emulsions, this study introduces a new soft hybrid system and offers new possibilities of exploring functional water-based liquid crystalline materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149242265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sulfur-Rank-Dependent Dispersion and Precipitation Behavior of Structurally Defined Sulfur-Containing Polymers.","authors":"Takumi Hashimoto, Tomonori Yamawaki, Takumi Yoshida, Riku Sawada, Hitoshi Kasai, Kouki Oka, Takumitsu Kida, Yukiya Kitayama, Hiroyasu Yamaguchi, Yuichiro Kobayashi","doi":"10.1002/marc.70459","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.70459","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The structural factors governing dispersion and precipitation in sulfur-containing polymer systems remain poorly understood. Sulfur-containing polymer microparticles are prepared by the dispersion copolymerization of 1,7-octadiene diepoxide (OD) with polysulfide species generated in situ from elemental sulfur and sodium sulfide. Among the examined stabilizers, only poly(vinylpyrrolidone) enables particle formation, whereas the other stabilizers result in precipitation, allowing dispersed and precipitated fractions to coexist for structural comparison. The resulting PolyOD-S<sub>n</sub> polymers possess structurally defined backbones, enabling the average sulfur rank, n, defined as the average number of consecutive sulfur atoms in a polysulfide segment, to be estimated using <sup>1</sup>H NMR chemical-shift analysis combined with elemental-composition analysis. Fractionation by natural sedimentation and filtration shows that polymers with higher average sulfur ranks preferentially precipitate, whereas those with lower average sulfur ranks remain dispersed. In contrast, no clear correlation is observed between molecular weight and fractionation behavior. These findings indicate that sulfur rank, rather than overall molecular weight, provides a distinct structural basis for the dispersion/precipitation behavior of sulfur-containing polymers.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149242317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuliana Pairetti, Ana Clara Rolandi, Nerea Casado, Maria Forsyth, Antonela Gallastegui, David Mecerreyes
{"title":"Protic Poly(Diallylammonium Sulfonate)s: Toward Water-Processable Fluorine-Free Ionic Materials.","authors":"Yuliana Pairetti, Ana Clara Rolandi, Nerea Casado, Maria Forsyth, Antonela Gallastegui, David Mecerreyes","doi":"10.1002/marc.70462","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.70462","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this work, we report the synthesis of a new family of fluorine-free protic poly(ionic liquid)s via free-radical cyclopolymerization of protic diallylammonium monomers. Protic ionic liquid monomers based on diallylmethylammonium (DAMAH<sup>+</sup>) and diallylammonium (DAAH<sub>2</sub> <sup>+</sup>), combined with different alkyl sulfonate counter-anions, were first prepared. Cyclopolymerization yielded a systematic series of six poly(diallylammonium) cations, five of which are newly reported here, combining two polymer backbones-poly(DAMAH<sup>+</sup>) and the newly incorporated poly(DAAH<sub>2</sub> <sup>+</sup>)-with three fluorine-free sulfonate anions, namely mesylate (MsO<sup>-</sup>), ethylsulfonate (EsO<sup>-</sup>), and dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBsO<sup>-</sup>); the previously reported poly(DAMAH<sup>+</sup>MsO<sup>-</sup>) analogue was included for direct comparison within the same series. Systematic characterization reveals how the interplay between polymer backbone and counter-anion governs solubility in water and organic solvents, glass transition temperatures (20-55°C), thermal stability (up to 300°C), and ionic conductivity (up to 10<sup>-3</sup> S cm<sup>-1</sup> at 100°C). The combination of their physicochemical properties, electrochemical stability, and water processability highlights these polymers as a versatile fluorine-free platform for electrochemical technologies. To demonstrate this potential, selected polymers were evaluated as water-processable binders for LiFePO<sub>4</sub> cathodes, where they delivered competitive rate capability and stable electrode performance compared to PVDF. Their protic ionic character further suggests opportunities for future applications toward proton-conducting materials. Overall, this work introduces a sustainable platform for the development of fluorine-free ionic polymers with broad potential for electrochemical technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":" ","pages":"e70462"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149236399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Topology-Directed Synthesis of Macroscopic Perylene-Silsesquioxane Polymeric Aerogels: Overcoming Aggregation-Caused Quenching for Dual-Action Water Remediation","authors":"Chenyu Sun, Masafumi Unno, Hongzhi Liu","doi":"10.1002/marc.70406","DOIUrl":"10.1002/marc.70406","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The persistent toxicity of phenolic contaminants necessitates the development of integrated water remediation technologies. While the synergistic “trap-and-destroy” pathway—combining rapid adsorption with in-situ photocatalytic degradation—is highly promising, its practical deployment is often hindered by the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) of organic chromophores and the recovery challenges associated with suspended powder catalysts. This work proposes a topology-directed engineering strategy to fabricate a macroscopic, metal-free material (PCSOA) by crosslinking perylene diimides with rigid polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS or SQs) cages. DFT calculations suggest that the rigid POSS nodes provide strong structural constraint to restrict the molecular motion of the photoactive perylene units, thereby suppressing non-radiative decay pathways while largely preserving the intrinsic frontier molecular orbitals. Driven by strong electrostatic and π-π affinities, the highly polarized network captures trinitrophenol with an uptake reaching 929 mg g<sup>−1</sup>. By gathering target molecules directly around the active sites, this localized accumulation significantly enhances visible-light photoactivity. Consequently, the system delivers a phenol mineralization rate constant of 1.79 h<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> and removes over 98% of the total organic carbon (TOC). From a practical standpoint, formatting the material into a macroscopic aerogel bypasses the cumbersome separation steps inherent to powders, allowing for stable and high-throughput water treatment in continuous-flow setups.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":"47 20","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148757256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Porous Hygroscopic Superabsorbent Polymer Fabricated via High-Speed Shearing Homogenization of High Internal Phase Emulsion for Humidity Regulation","authors":"Jiawen Xu, Yongmiao Shen, Mingyu Guo","doi":"10.1002/marc.70410","DOIUrl":"10.1002/marc.70410","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Humidity regulation plays a critical role in human comfort, industrial processes, and art preservation. Developing solid hygroscopic materials that simultaneously achieve high moisture uptake, low-temperature regeneration, and rapid adsorption kinetics remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a porous hygroscopic superabsorbent polymer, porous poly(acrylic acid-co-sodium acrylate) (PPAANa), synthesized via high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templating coupled with high-speed shearing homogenization and a polymerizable macromolecular surfactant. At 25°C, PPAANa achieves a moisture uptake of 0.76 g g<sup>−1</sup> within 45 min at 70% relative humidity (RH) and 1.53 g g<sup>−1</sup> within 105 min under 90% RH, demonstrating high capacity and fast kinetics. Moreover, 90% of the adsorbed water was released within 20 min under a low regeneration temperature of 60°C (20% RH), underscoring its fast and energy-efficient desorption performance. Additionally, a small dosage of PPAANa (0.125 g L<sup>−1</sup>) reduces the RH from 90% to 58% within 1 h at 25°C. Conversely, when pre-loaded with 0.25–0.45 g g<sup>−1</sup> of water, it raises the RH from 30% to a tunable range of 42%–59% under the same conditions. These results highlight PPAANa as a promising polymer desiccant for energy‑efficient and intelligent indoor humidity regulation.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":"47 20","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148786340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ruth N. Schmarsow, Ileana A. Zucchi, Gustavo F. Arenas, Walter F. Schroeder
{"title":"Fabrication of Remotely Activated Shape-Memory Polymer Composites via Single-Step Photopolymerization","authors":"Ruth N. Schmarsow, Ileana A. Zucchi, Gustavo F. Arenas, Walter F. Schroeder","doi":"10.1002/marc.70412","DOIUrl":"10.1002/marc.70412","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A simple one-step photopolymerization strategy is presented to fabricate multifunctional shape-memory polymer composites capable of remote and programmable light-triggered actuation. The composites integrate gold nanoparticles and semicrystalline poly(ethylene)-<i>block</i>-poly(ethylene oxide) nanoribbons within a cross-linked epoxy network. During curing, the block copolymer undergoes crystallization-driven self-assembly, generating micrometer-long nanoribbons that act as reversible thermal switching domains, while gold nanoparticles are simultaneously formed in situ, enabling efficient conversion of visible light into localized heat through plasmonic excitation. Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses confirm the successful incorporation of both components without compromising their native morphology. Differential scanning calorimetry reveals two distinct thermal events corresponding to the glass transition of the epoxy matrix and the melting of the polyethylene domains, providing two independently addressable switching temperatures. Under green-light irradiation, the embedded gold nanoparticles rapidly raise the local temperature, enabling not only remote activation of the shape-memory effect but also programmable sequential shape recovery by selectively activating each thermal transition through laser power adjustment. These results demonstrate that combining crystalline block copolymer nanostructures with plasmonic nanoparticles enables remotely controlled multi-stage actuation using a single external stimulus. This scalable and ambient-compatible approach provides a versatile platform for the design of light-responsive composites with tunable thermal and mechanical behavior, offering opportunities for applications in smart coatings, remote actuators, and programmable materials.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":"47 20","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148786399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cross-Linkable Room-Temperature Phosphorescent Polymer Blends With Ultrawide Modulus Tunability","authors":"Junhong Liang, Zijun Huang, Shu-Ming Cui, Taolin Sun, Yingying Wang, Tao Wen","doi":"10.1002/marc.70405","DOIUrl":"10.1002/marc.70405","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Pure organic room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) polymers have attracted considerable attention for their promising applications in information encryption, anti-counterfeiting, and flexible optoelectronics. Herein, we report a strategy combining physical blending and in situ covalent cross-linking to fabricate processable RTP polymer blends with ultrawide mechanical tunability. Flowable precursors are first prepared by dispersing carbazole-based phosphor-doped polystyrene (PS) into polyethylene glycol (PEG), followed by cross-linking of terminal hydroxyl groups to form a three-dimensional polyurethane network that provides an excellent oxygen barrier and shape fixation. The optimized system exhibits bright yellow RTP with afterglow durations of 1.7–5.5 s, representing a 2–5-fold enhancement compared with non-cross-linked systems. Impressively, Young's modulus can be precisely tuned over 9 orders of magnitude from ∼10<sup>−1</sup> to ∼10<sup>8</sup> Pa. This work provides a universal and scalable route for developing moldable, mechanics-tunable RTP polymers for advanced optical and anti-counterfeiting applications.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":205,"journal":{"name":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","volume":"47 20","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148786417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}