CHAPTER 9: Towards Cyclodextrin-Based Supramolecular Materials

Inclusion complexation between cyclodextrins (CDs) and various guests has been extensively investigated in supramolecular chemistry. Besides CDs, there are several important macrocyclic host families, such as crown ethers and cucurbiturils. Until now, the contribution of these other families to macromolecular self-assembly has been small compared to CDs. This chapter will focus on CDs as hosts for interaction with guest monomers to form hydrogels. CD interactions with other monomers were made possible depending on proper molecular recognition. Macroscopic molecular recognition can be categorized by three types of interactions: main chain (polyrotaxane), side chain, and sequential complexes. Utilizing CD as host molecule, polymers such as polyethers, cationic polymers, polyamines, polyesters, π-conjugated polymers, polyolefins, polyamides, polyurethanes, and inorganic polymers could interact to form inclusion complexes. This chapter will attempt to discuss these studies. Depending on the functional groups attached to the polymeric component, supramolecular formation can be altered based on the stimuli response. Introducing polymer side chains or groups that respond selectively towards external stimuli could affect the hydrogel formation. This chapter also discusses the stimuli response of such systems.