A molecular sewing machine
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Living molecular architectures adapt and evolve by continuously exchanging energy with their surroundings. To mimic this behavior, synthetic tools have been developed to switch 25 artificial systems between states; however, these systems generally relax toward thermodynamically inert equilibria. Creating “life-like” synthetic materials that operate far from equilibrium therefore remains a major challenge. Here, we show that attaching light-activated supramolecular “pumping” motors to polymer chain ends enables the “sewing” of these chains with complementary polymer units bearing multiple macrocyclic side chains. This directional 30 entanglement is sustained by a dissipative, non-equilibrium process and generates mechanically bonded nanogels that transiently store the input light energy processed by the molecular pump. This strategy paves the way to active soft materials capable of functioning over time and performing work on their environment.
Source: ChemRxiv
Language: English
Subfield: Organic Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7211876745