A team from the Steinmetz and Craig labs assess recent advances in stability optimization to improve the functionality of virus-based nanoparticles and derived materials, considering engineering strategies that target the external and internal surfaces, as well as the interfaces between coat protein subunits. Article Link

This Perspective from the MONET team highlights how new molecule-to-material relationships in polymer networks are simultaneously advancing the field of polymer chemistry and uncovering fundamental principles that extend beyond polymer systems, enriching our broader understanding of reactivity, structure, and bonding in complex materials. Article Link

A team from the Johnson , Olsen , Kulik , and Craig labs report a class of force-responsive molecules—tetrafunctional cyclobutanes (TCBs)—that enable the synthesis of single-network end-linked gels with substantially decreased or increased toughness, including unusually high toughness for dilute end-linked gels, with no other changes to network composition. TCB mechanophores and the corresponding concepts of stress-selective force-coupled reactivity and strand continuity off

A team from the Nelson and Craig labs use a 1 : 1 substitution of cyclobutane-based mechanophores as scissile covalent crosslinks in 3D printed poly(methoxyethylacrylate) networks to enhance the material toughness without compromising stiffness. These crosslinkers increased the material's toughness in tensile and tearing tests without altering its stiffness or appearance, suggesting that mechanophores offer a promising route to toughen 3D printed elastomers. Article Link

A team from the Moore lab presents a systematic workflow aimed at facilitating the design and discovery of new mechanophores. By integrating the classic iso-metrical CoGEF approach with the iso-tensional Tension Model of Bond Activation (TMBA) simulation, the workflow enables comprehensive evaluation of mechanophore candidates prior to experimental implementation for efficient identification and filtering away of unexpected issues while providing insights for potential struc

A team from the Steinmetz lab developed a viral NanoSponge formulation that enables the noncovalent loading of agrochemicals but prevents premature release through metal–phenolic network (MPN) coatings. The NanoSponge platform represents a sustainable and effective strategy for precision farming, effectively addressing deep soil pests. Article Link

A team from the Olsen and Rubinstein labs, in collaboration with others at University of Campinas and University of South Florida,...

A team from the Olvera de la Cruz and Campos labs develop a mean-field framework that connects microscopic bond reactions and molecular...

A team from the Craig , Rubinstein , Sottos , and Gong labs report the impact of fused ring size in bicyclic cyclobutane mechanophores...

A team from the Kulik and Craig labs report the computational, machine learning guided discovery of synthesizable ferrocene...

A team from the Kalow and Olvera de la Cruz labs establish rheological isotope effects (RIEs) as a new tool for studying dynamic...

Craig and Rubinstein discuss how reducing the crosslink density in highly entangled natural rubber increases its crack resistance and...

A team from the Gong and Rubinstein labs report demonstrate how weak bonds can be leveraged to achieve self-strengthening in polymer...

A team from the Klausen , Nelson , Kulik , and Craig labs report a novel chemical design for accelerated mechanochemical bond scission...

A team from the Craig , Olsen , and Rubinstein labs, in collaboration with others at MIT, systematically study the fracture mechanics of...

A team from the Kulik and Craig labs leverage density functional theory (DFT) and external force explicitly included (EFEI) modeling to...

A team from the Olsen lab utilize a custom-built rheo-fluoresence setup to quantify bond dissociation in model end-linked associative...

A team from the Klausen , Craig , and Kulik labs report that differences in ring strain enthalpy between cis and trans isomers of...

A team from the Moore lab introduce the restoring force triangle (RFT) to facilitate understanding of the selective responsiveness of...

A team from the Nelson and Olvera de la Cruz labs establish a strain learning mechanical metamaterial that can not only recover after...