Macromolecules are widely used in everyday life and have been with us since ancient times. This article covers what they are, their historical development, and explores their possible applications in future nanotechnology and medicine, particularly through the properties of block copolymers.
In this blog post, I’d like to talk about macromolecules, a field of research that is leading the way in chemical engineering. A macromolecule is a type of molecule. What is a molecule? A molecule is the smallest particle that has the properties of a substance. Think of the glass in a window. If you cut it, and cut it, and cut it, and cut it, and cut it, eventually the material you cut is not glass, but rather the more fundamental particles that make up the substance called glass. The smallest substance that you can call glass, the one just before you cut it into those non-glass particles, is called a glass molecule.
Polymers are those molecules, especially those that are very large in size. As the aggregation of molecules grows larger, their properties become more complex beyond simple chemical structure. Many of the things we see around us are actually polymers. Examples include DNA, which contains our genetic information, natural polymers like paper, and synthetic polymers called “plastics”. These polymeric objects are deeply embedded in our everyday lives, and people have been using polymers naturally since ancient times.
Materials such as burlap and natural rubber are actually polymers, suggesting that humans have been utilizing polymers since before history. The concept of polymers was first formalized by German chemist H. Staudinger in 1922, but forms of polymers existed long before that. In 1907, Belgian L. H. Baekeland successfully synthesized and commercialized Bakelite, the first synthetic polymer in human history. This discovery opened the door to the use of polymers in many fields.
In the early 20th century, many scientists did not accept that polymers existed, believing that many small molecules clustered together to determine the properties of a substance. Researchers at the time simply thought that the presence of many small molecules in close proximity explained the properties of materials like rubber and burlap. However, Staudinger discovered that the molecules that made up these materials were themselves very large, and the concept of polymers was born.
So what are polymers? The word polymer is often used interchangeably with the word polymer. A polymer is a type of macromolecule, meaning a large molecule formed by repeating smaller units. To illustrate the difference between polymers and polymers, a polymer is like a beaded necklace made of only certain beads. Polymers, on the other hand, are more akin to a piece of jewelry that you would wear around your neck regardless of what the necklace is made of. In other words, polymers are a type of polymer, but polymers encompass a broader concept.
Polymers have very specific properties in their own right. The types of monomers that make up a polymer and how they are arranged greatly determine its properties. This gives them a variety of characteristics that distinguish them from ordinary molecules. For example, polymers are inherently durable and flexible, which allows them to be utilized in a variety of industries. To study the properties of these polymers, many researchers are synthesizing different polymers to explore their possibilities.
Among these polymers, block copolymers are worth noting. Block copolymers are polymers made up of two or more different monomers, and their structure is quite unique. Block copolymers are made up of two different types of monomers arranged in a certain order, each of which has different properties. For example, one may be highly soluble in water and the other insoluble in water. Polymers that combine monomers with different properties open up a wide range of application possibilities.
An example of a block copolymer is a commercially available “munchie” snack. Just as half of a gummy is one color and the other half is another, block copolymers have a similar structure. Each unit has a tendency to interact with parts that have similar properties to itself, and they have the ability to self-arrange. For example, if you put a bunch of dream webs together, similarly colored ones will try to be as close together as possible.
This property of block copolymers has great potential in many areas of science and technology. In nanotechnology, in particular, block copolymers can form complex nanostructures with self-assembling structures. For example, they can be used to create nanoscale electronic components or even to mimic biological tissue. This will enable highly precise work in the future that is not possible with existing technologies.
Block copolymers also show promise in medicine, with applications in drug delivery systems gaining traction. Conventional drugs travel throughout the body, affecting not only the sick parts but also the healthy ones. For example, chemotherapy often destroys not only cancer cells but also healthy cells, causing side effects. But with block copolymers, drugs can be controlled so that they are delivered only to specific areas. For example, a drug can be engineered to only act near cancer cells, making it possible to deliver the drug only to cancer cells. This would minimize the side effects of chemotherapy and pave the way for more effective treatments.
Polymers are no longer just for plastic bins and tire rubber; they will play an important role in future advances in science and technology. Polymers can be used to make “fake glass” that is stronger and lighter than glass, or as a material for fluffy displays. They can also be used to develop adhesives that stay sticky even after being applied and removed multiple times. Polymers also hold the promise of providing cures for diseases like cancer.
It’s no exaggeration to call the era we live in the “polymer age.” After the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age, we’re on the cusp of a polymer-driven future. I hope this article has familiarized you with polymers and gotten you excited for the polymer age to come. Thank you for listening to the story of polymers so far.
