“造小”的艺术，用分子构筑新材料（国际科技前沿）

Core Insights - A collaborative research effort between Chinese and Dutch scientists has successfully synthesized a dynamic polymer with a distinct double-helix structure, inspired by the Shanghai Tower's architecture, marking a significant advancement in biomimetic smart materials [2][3]. Group 1: Research Background and Inspiration - The research was conducted by the Nobel Prize-winning scientist team at East China University of Science and Technology, inspired by the Shanghai Tower, which is the tallest building in China and the third tallest in the world, completed in 2016 [3]. - The unique double-helix appearance of the Shanghai Tower not only provides aerodynamic stability but also resembles spiral structures found in biological systems, such as DNA and certain proteins [3]. Group 2: Polymer Characteristics and Functionality - The synthesized polymer exhibits dynamic behavior similar to natural proteins, capable of expanding and contracting with temperature changes, fully unwinding under specific conditions, and ultimately degrading into absorbable small molecules without residual risks [2][5]. - The polymer's structure is maintained through a combination of dynamic covalent bonds, particularly reversible disulfide bonds, and rigid amino acid backbones, allowing for both flexibility and stability [4][5]. Group 3: Potential Applications - This material shows promise for use in next-generation wearable or implantable medical devices due to its excellent mechanical flexibility, biocompatibility, and complete degradability [5]. - Potential applications include flexible neural interfaces, targeted drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering scaffolds, which can adapt to complex mechanical environments within the body and safely metabolize after fulfilling their purpose [5]. Group 4: Broader Implications in Nanotechnology - The research aligns with the broader mission of chemistry to bridge physical laws and biological phenomena, emphasizing the complexity that can arise from simple molecular building blocks [6]. - The development of molecular machines and nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize various fields, including precision medicine and environmental remediation, by enabling the construction of materials with specific functions at the molecular level [7][10].