奈良先端科学技術大学院大学 物質創成科学領域

Staff & Contact

Education and Research Activities in the Laboratory

Based on the concept of “molecular technology”, this laboratory was established in 2015 to conduct functional polymer materials research in the field of polymer chemistry. The laboratory transitioned as one of core laboratory at Materials Science Division at NAIST in 2019. Students who are interested in polymer synthesis and nanomaterials are welcome. The development of functional polymer materials requires various knowledge including organic synthesis, analytical methods, and materials design, all of which are covered in the laboratory. Moreover, our functional materials will contribute to medical devices, energy related materials, and environmentally friendly polymer materials. We offer a thorough education through discussions, presentations, and participation in academic conferences and meetings so that students become qualified researchers.

Research Themes

In this laboratory, high-performance polymers and functional polymers are prepared by various approaches such as molecular design, polymer structure control, and effective polymer-polymer interaction.

1. Control of Polymer Structure

Precise polymerization, flow system, and material processing are utilized in order to create the novel polymer structure and material. For example, star- and cage- shaped polymers, as well as narrow PDI, by living radical polymerization, well-defined and cyclic polymers by development of novel polymerization methods, and non-woven fabric with low molecular weight compounds by electrospinning process method.

2. Degradable Polymer

Molecular design of the novel monomers contribute to medical and environment. For example, medical materials, long-term drug release, and environmentally friendly polymers are created by poly(trimethylene carbonate derivative)s with ester free structure, polylactides with chain end modification, and chemically modified poly(butylene succinate) with double bond in the main chain.

3. High Performance Polymer

For the alternative of general polymers, new amphiphilic polymers and natural polymers are utilized to control mechanical strength or thermal properties. For example, molecular weight and particle control by N-vinylamide, flexible materials, resin altenative, antifouling surfaces, and surface control by chitin, cellulose, agarose are designed and prepared.

4. Novel Functional Polymer

Molecular technology concept contribute to the creation of next- generation functional materials. For example, water-harvesting, surface-covered, highly-stretching, and water-retaining materials by functional hydrogels, thermal storage by nanofilm coating, and novel functional materials by stereocomplex are created.

Explanatory Pictures of Research Activities

Recent Research Papers and Achievements (2022～ selected)

1. Nalinthip Chanthaset*, Akari Maehara, Hiroharu Ajiro*, “Particles and film preparation of ester-free type poly(trimethylene carbonate) derivatives bearing aromatic groups initiated with hydrophilic initiators”, Colloids Surf. A. 2023, 667(20), 131413(8).
2. Lee Yae Tan, Nalinthip Chanthaset*, Arif Fadlan, Hiroharu Ajiro,* “Synthesis of Ester-free Poly(trimethylene carbonate) Bearing Cinnamyl Moiety for Antibacterial Biomaterials Applications”, React. Funct. Polym., 2023, 186, 105563(8).
3. Kamolchanok Sarisuta, Mizuho Iwami, Blanca Martin-Vaca, Nalinthip Chanthaset*, Hiroharu Ajiro*, “The pH Effect on Particle Aggregation of Vanillin End-capped Polylactides Bearing Hydrophilic Group Connected by Cyclic Acetal Moiety”, Langmuir, 2023, 39, 3994-4004.
4. Tsuyoshi Ando*, Kazuki Yamaguchi, Hiroharu Ajiro,* “Thermoresponsive star-shaped polymer with heteroarm type with methacrylates prepared by living radical polymerization method”, Polym. Chem. 2023, 14, 1027-1035.
5. Miguel Palenzuela, KamolchanokSarisuta, Marta Navarro, Narumi Kumamoto, Nalinthip Chanthaset, Julien Monot, Hiroharu Ajiro, Blanca MARTIN-VACA,* Didier Bourissou* “5-Methylene-1,3-Dioxane-2-One: A First Choice Comonomer for Trimethylene Carbonate”, Macromolecules, 2023, 56(2), 678-689.
6. Ryo Kawatani, Taiga Hamawaki, Tomonori Waku, Naoki Tanaka, Hiroharu Ajiro*, “Evaluation of Biocompatible Films using Copolymers of N-Vinylbenzamide with Cationic Moieties by Hydrolysis of N-Vinylformamide”, Macromol. Chem. Phys. 2023, 2200386.
7. Izabela Kurowska, Alexis Dupre-Demorsy, Stéphane Balayssac, Marie Hennetier, Audrey Ric, Valérie Bourdon, Tsuyoshi Ando, Hiroharu Ajiro, Olivier Coutelier, Mathias Destarac*, “Tailor-made poly(vinylamine) via purple LED-activated RAFT polymerization of N-vinylformamide”, Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2023, 2200729 (6), OPEN ACCESS.
8. Jaeyeong Choi, Hiroharu Ajiro*, “Preparation of stereocomplex and pseudo-polyrotaxane with various cyclodextrins as wheel components using triblock copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol) and polylactide”, Soft Matter, 2022,18, 8885-8893 .
9. Alexis Dupre-Demorsy, Izabela Kurowska, Stéphane Balayssac, Marie Hennetier, Audrey Ric, Valérie Bourdon, Tsuyoshi Ando, Hiroharu Ajiro, Olivier Couteliera, Mathias Destarac*, “RAFT polymerisation of N-vinylformamide and corresponding double hydrophilic block copolymers”, Polym. Chem. 2022,13, 6229-6237.
10. Lee Yae Tan, Nalinthip Chanthaset*, Hiroharu Ajiro*, “Surface Coating and Characteristics of Ester-free Poly(trimethylene carbonate) Bearing an Aromatic Urea Moiety for Biomaterials Use”, Mater. Adv. 2022, 3, 5778-5785.
11. Daisuke Aoki,　Francisco Lossada, Daniel Hoenders, Hiroharu Ajiro*, Andreas Walther*, “Efficient softening and toughening strategies of cellulose nanofibril nanocomposites using comb polyurethane”, Biomacromolecules 2022, 23, 1693-1702.
12. Rikyu Miyake, Akari Maehara, Nalinthip Chanthaset, Hiroharu Ajiro*, “Thermal property control by copolymerization of trimethylene carbonate and its derivative bearing triphenylmethyl group”, ChemistrySelect 2022, 7, e202104326.
13. Alexis Dupre-Demorsy, Olivier Coutelier, Mathias Destarac*, Clémence Nadal, Valérie Bourdon, Tsuyoshi Ando, Hiroharu Ajiro, “RAFT Polymerization of N-Methyl-N-Vinylacetamide and Related Double Hydrophilic Block copolymers”, Macromolecules 2022, 55, 1127-1138.
14. Hiroaki Yoshida*, Hiroya Furumai, Hiroharu Ajiro*, “Preparation and Characterization of Thermoresponsive Poly(N-vinylisobutyramide) Microgels” Langmuir, 2022, 38, 5269-5274.
15. Shin Asano, Jaeyeong Choi, Tran Thi Tran, Nalinthip Chanthaset, Hiroharu Ajiro*, “The influence of chain-end functionalization and sterecomplexation on the degradation stability under alkaline condition” Polym. Adv. Technol. 2022, 33(3), 991-999.