title: Chelation-Induced Polymer Structural Hierarchy/Complexity in Water.
abstract: Understanding nanoscale structural hierarchy/complexity of hydrophilic flexible polymers is imperative because it can be viewed as an analogue to protein-alike superstructures. However, current understanding is still in infancy. Herein the first demonstration of nanoscale structural hierarchy/complexity via copper chelation-induced self-assembly (CCISA) is presented. Hierarchically-ordered colloidal networks and disks can be achieved by deliberate control of spacer length and solution pH. Dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy demonstrate that CCISA underwent supramolecular-to-supracolloidal stepwise-growth mechanism, and underline amazing prospects to the hierarchically-ordered superstructures of hydrophilic flexible polymers in water.
authors.affiliation: Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
authors.forename: Kaiyi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
authors.forename: Xuechao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
authors.forename: Qiuping
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
authors.forename: Xinhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
authors.forename: Yuanli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D003102:Colloids; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D057786:Peptidomimetics / Q000737:chemistry; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D003102:Colloids; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D057786:Peptidomimetics; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; C011533:Duxon; D003300:Copper
keywords: hydrophilic polymers; metal-polymer complexes; nanoparticles; self-assembly; supramolecular structures