Researchers unlock new level of precision in supramolecular materials
October 1, 2026
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Giant ‘giga’ assemblies of different molecules enable novel materials, supercharge neurons
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The lab of Samuel I. Stupp has built giant, precisely patterned molecular threads called supramolecular polymers, reported in Science. Made from self-assembling molecules, the longest threads exceed the diameter of a cell and are roughly 100 times more massive than very large conventional polymers. In cell culture studies, the structures enhanced neuron growth and increased synapse formation, pointing to new biomaterials for regenerative medicine.