SFB 985: Functional Microgels and Microgel Systems

聚合物科学的研究比以往任何时候都更专注于模拟自然界中发现的复杂体系。生命系统令人惊叹的功能是通过许多长度尺度上的结构层次组织的组合来实现的，这些组织是通过在水环境中自组装实现的，并且还具有对外部触发做出反应的能力。通过微凝胶，我们可以类似地将聚合物组织在特定的体系结构中，以增强和改变它们在催化、分离、输送和机械支持等领域的功能。这些都是许多应用中的重要过程，从合成、清除、催化和传感器，到医学应用。这些考虑因素为合作研究中心(SFB)985功能微凝胶和微凝胶系统的研究计划及其进入第三个研究阶段的进展奠定了框架。胶体微凝胶具有开放、水膨胀和柔软的聚合物网络的独特特性，使其成为需要大基板、容器和响应性或通过扩散传输的应用的理想构建块。具有精确选择的结构、相对分子质量、主链、侧基和活性部分的微凝胶被合成以在分子水平上调整其功能，而它们的自组装和/或交联会产生更大、更复杂的材料实体。具有分子层次排列的自组织微凝胶体系的特点是系统功能的划分，导致具有选择性和定向传输和形状变化性质的复杂超结构，以及受控的化学转化。在第二阶段，微凝胶被制备成不同尺寸、形状和结构的微凝胶，在许多情况下是以连续工艺为基础的。在第三阶段，将利用微凝胶的功能用途来建立智能仿生材料系统。微凝胶可以实现可切换的性质，使形状和功能的适应性成为可能，因为它们将溶解的大分子的性质与胶体颗粒的性质结合在一起。微凝胶内的不同多功能隔间可以相互通信，另一方面，微凝胶可以组装成更大的材料结构或与更大的材料结构组装，以实现特定的功能屏障或支架。我们的SFB汇集了来自聚合物科学、化学工程和生命科学的研究小组。这些小组以一致的方式工作，为现有和新出现的挑战寻找新的办法和解决办法。这种特殊的结合使我们能够在三个层面上综合解决微凝胶研究：功能微凝胶的设计及其与环境的相互作用，技术规模的产品工艺设计，以及新型应用系统。

Research in polymer science focuses more than ever on mimicking complex systems found in nature. The amazing functionalities of living systems are realized by a combination of structural hierarchical organization over many length scales, achieved by self-assembly in an aqueous environment and which also has the ability to respond to external triggers. By means of microgels, we can similarly organize polymers in defined architectures to enhance and vary their function in fields such as catalysis, separation, delivery, and mechanical support. These are all important processes in many applications, ranging from synthesis, scavenging, catalysis and sensors, to medical applications. These considerations set the frame for the research program for the Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 985 Functional Microgels and Microgel Systems and its evolution into its third research period. The unique properties of colloidal microgels as open, water-swollen, and soft polymer networks render them ideal building blocks for applications that require large substrates, containers, and responsivity, or transport via diffusion. Microgels with precisely selected architectures, molecular weights, backbone, side groups, and reactive moieties are synthesized to tailor their function on a molecular level, while their self-assembly and/or crosslinking results in larger, more complex materials entities. Self-organized microgel systems with hierarchical arrangement of molecular entities are characterized by compartmentalization of system functions, leading to complex superstructures with selective and directed transport and shape changing properties, as well as controlled chemical transformation.In the second period, microgels have been fabricated with different sizes, shapes, and architectures, in many cases in continuous processes for upscale. In the third period, the functional use of the microgels will be employed to establish smart bio-inspired materials systems. Microgels can achieve switchable properties that enable adaptability of form and function as they combine properties of dissolved macromolecules with those of colloidal particles. The different multi-functional compartments inside microgels can communicate with each other, while on the other hand, microgels can assemble into or with larger materials constructs to achieve specific functional barriers or scaffolds.Our SFB brings together research groups from polymer science, chemical engineering and life sciences. These groups work in a convergent manner to find new approaches and solutions to existing and emerging challenges. This special combination enables us to address microgel research in a comprehensive approach on three levels: the design of the functional microgel and its interaction with the environment, the technical-scale product-process design, and the novel application system.