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 offer design principles for tuning the toughness of simple yet commonly used single-network gels. Article Link

Jafer has successfully defended his thesis, "Structure-Activity Relationships in Reactive Strand Extension Mechanophores". Congratulations Dr. Vakil!

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 structural optimization. Article Link

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

The NSF Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure has awarded Prof. Heather Kulik a new allocation for the project "Developing Accurate Materials Design Strategies Across Method- and Length-Scales". That project has been awarded an allocation on the following resources: SDSC Expanse Projects Storage: 27,000.0 GB SDSC Expanse GPU: 33,089.0 GPU Hours SDSC Expanse CPU: 7,000,000.0 Core-hours Based on cost estimates provided by the resource providers, the allocation of resources awarded to this project would represent approximately $53,658 in support. Congratulations Heather and good luck with the project!

A team from the Olsen and Rubinstein labs, in collaboration with others at University of Campinas and University of South Florida, extend BigSMILES to accommodate nonatomic particles, enabling it to represent coarse-grained models of polymers in a manner directly analogous to atomic structures. The new syntax coarse-grained BigSMILES (CG-BigSMILES) combines a layer-based annotation with linking to force field files to capture both chemical structures and interacting potentials. Article Link

A team from the Olvera de la Cruz and Campos labs develop a mean-field framework that connects microscopic bond reactions and molecular packing-induced conformational changes to macroscopic elastic behavior. The work provides a predictive platform for designing responsive and adaptive polymer networks with tailored properties. Article Link

A team from the Craig , Rubinstein , Sottos , and Gong labs report the impact of fused ring size in bicyclic cyclobutane mechanophores within the strands of polymer network gels. They observe the first evidence of covalent reactive strand extension (RSE) effects in a single-network gel, and strands with greater RSE lead to gels with greater stretchability and toughness. Article Link

A team from the Kulik and Craig labs report the computational, machine learning guided discovery of synthesizable ferrocene mechanophores. The work establishes a generalizable framework for the high-throughput discovery and rational design of mechanophores and offers insights into structure–activity relationships in mechanically responsive materials. Article Link