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History, present, and future of polymer science at Wuhan University

2024; Wiley; Volume: 62; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/pol.20230972

2642-4169

Si‐Xue Cheng, Jinping Zhou, Xian‐Zheng Zhang,

Various Chemistry Research Topics

As an integral part of the College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences at Wuhan University (WHU Chemistry), the Department of Polymer Science at Wuhan University (WHU Polymer) originated from the disciplines of Organic Chemistry and Polymer and was established as an independent department in 1970. Since then, WHU Polymer has been actively engaged in pioneering research across various cutting-edge fields of polymer science. Renowned polymer scientists, including Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professors Bao-Gong Qian, Ren-Xi Zhuo, and Lina Zhang, have greatly contributed to WHU Polymer. Today, WHU Polymer is widely recognized as one of the foremost polymer departments in China, offering national leadership in polymer research and education. As an important department at Wuhan University to carry on the national "211," "985," and "global leading university and discipline" projects, WHU Polymer is one of the national training bases for nurturing outstanding scholars of basic scientific research and teaching. WHU Polymer offers holistic educational programs in polymer chemistry and physics, leading to Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctor's degrees. Besides, WHU Polymer also provides postdoctoral training opportunities. With a team of 20 faculty members (including 14 full professors and 6 associate professors) actively engaged in undergraduate and graduate educational programs, as well as directing multidisciplinary research projects, WHU Polymer equips students with the necessary foundation for a successful professional career and a life-long pursuit of independent learning, ensuring that the graduates are well-prepared for future challenges. WHU Polymer excels in a wide range of research areas, encompassing polymer chemistry and physics, polymer biomaterials, natural polymers, and functional polymers. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, WHU Polymer has positioned itself at the forefront of research in the fields of chemistry, materials science, and life sciences. In the fields of polymer chemistry and physics, the research of WHU Polymer has primarily centered on the synthesis, characterizations, and functionalization of polymers with a wide range of chemical and topological structures, physicochemical properties, stimuli-responsive behaviors, and bioactivities. In addition, the research has delved into innovative polymerization technologies, including enzymatic polymerization and microwave polymerization, to produce biodegradable polymers such as aliphatic polyesters, aliphatic polycarbonates, and polyphosphates. These advancements have contributed to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly polymer materials. In the research field of natural polymers, a groundbreaking technique for low-temperature polymer dissolution was pioneered by successfully dissolving cellulose and chitin at low temperatures using alkaline/urea aqueous solutions. This remarkable achievement was recognized and selected as one of the Top 10 Scientific and Technological Advances in Chinese Universities in 2012. Building upon this advancement, a range of functional new materials have been developed utilizing natural polymers such as cellulose and chitin, shedding light on the relationships between material structure and properties. In the realm of polymer physics, formulas and models have been established and modified to calculate the molecular dimensions and chain conformations of polysaccharides in dilute solutions, thereby refining the theory concerning natural polysaccharides in dilute solutions. These systematic endeavors have established a robust foundation for the application of renewable polymer materials. For her remarkable contributions to the field of natural polymers, Prof. Lina Zhang was awarded the Anselme Payen Award, the highest recognition in the international field of renewable resources, presented by the American Chemical Society in 2011. In the realm of biomedical materials, research efforts have been focused on the development of drug and gene delivery vectors and theranostic nanosystems. Delivery systems based on functional peptides, functional polymers, and hybrid materials are characterized by their multiple targeting capabilities, high sensitivity to stimuli, specific biological activities and functions (e.g., organ and/or cell targeting, cell penetration, endosome/lysosome escape, and nuclear translocation), and good biocompatibility. By combining the targeting capabilities of delivery vectors with therapeutic agents, these agents can be precisely delivered to targeted organs, tissues, tumor cells, and organelles such as cell nuclei, maximizing therapeutic efficacy and minimizing side effects. To meet the therapeutic requirements of particular diseases, the innovative concept of "living biomaterials" has been proposed. By integrating modified components of living systems, such as cells, bacteria, bacteriophages, and fungi, with polymer materials and other materials, complex physiological functions can be achieved to enhance, integrate, and synergize specific physiological functions. Based on the concept of "living biomaterials," a series of bioactive materials have been developed for the treatment and diagnosis of cancers and other complex diseases. These biomaterials have served as the basis for implementing a variety of strategies aimed at addressing crucial challenges in cancer therapy, including precise personalized therapy to improve therapeutic efficiency and reduce systemic cytotoxicity, effective modulation of cell behaviors (e.g., inducing cell apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, reversing immunosuppression, etc.) to overcome treatment resistance, reverse malignancy, and prevent cancer development, and modification of tumor microenvironments to create antitumor environments and promote antitumor immunity. WHU Polymer has garnered national recognition for its extensive research accomplishments. The accolades received include National Natural Science Awards (Second Prize in 2012, Third Prize in 1999, and Fourth Prize in 1991), Science and Technology Progress Award from the Ministry of Education (First Prizes in 1991), and Natural Science Awards from the Ministry of Education (First Prizes in 2017 and Second Prize in 2004 and 2010). To commemorate the 130th anniversary of WHU, we present this special issue. On this momentous occasion, we express our gratitude to the authors, reviewers, and editorial staff at the Journal of Polymer Science for making this special issue a reality. We hope that you will find this issue inspiring and look forward to sharing exciting new advancements from our community in the years ahead.