Molecule‐Responsive Polymer Monolith as a Smart Gate Driven by Host–Guest Interaction with Morphology Restoration

• Published in: Macromolecular chemistry and physics Vol. 222; no. 7
• Main Authors: Mizuno, Shunsuke, Asoh, Taka‐Aki, Takashima, Yoshinori, Harada, Akira, Uyama, Hiroshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-04-2021
• Subjects: Biomimetic materials; cyclodextrin; Cyclodextrins; dynamic crosslinking; Inclusion complexes; Microfluidic devices; Micrometers; molecular recognition; monoliths; Morphology; Permeability; Smart materials
• ISSN: 1022-1352; 1521-3935
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.202000392

Materials that function in response to the molecules are attracting attention as smart materials. In particular, the autonomous change in permeability is an attractive function of the biomimetic materials in the fields of microfluidic devices, transport control, and sensing. In this study, a monolith that incorporates crosslinked points formed by an inclusion complex of β‐cyclodextrin and phenyl groups is prepared and applied for permeability control. Monoliths with continuous pores of several micrometers in size show a reversible permeability change in response to the specific molecules. During the supramolecular bond dissociation/reformation cycle, the monoliths restore their permeability along with their original porous structure.
Molecule‐responsive polymer monolith incorporating of supramolecular crosslinkings formed by β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) and guest moiety is prepared. The monolithic column recognized molecules with an affinity for β‐CD and autonomously alters the liquid permeability with changing the pore size. Removal of adsorbed guest molecules restores the flowability and regenerates the porous structure of the monolith simultaneously.