Acc. Chem. Res. 2026

Selenium is an essential element widely utilized across biological systems, where it imparts unique chemical functionality to biomacromolecules. While selenoproteins are well appreciated in humans, other selenium-containing biomacromolecules remain largely absent, and the development of selenium-based therapeutics has lagged. Here, from the perspective of molecular design, we introduce a series of selenium-containing polymers with diverse molecular structures and elucidate their in vivo effect, aiming to advance selenium chemistry toward defined biological functions. In this account, we establish a unified framework linking molecular structure, chemical reactivity, and in vivo functionality of selenium-containing polymers, thereby redefining their role beyond conventional drug carriers. We first delineate the distinct redox-responsive behaviors of monoselenide and diselenide motifs and their divergent biological consequences in vivo. We then introduce selenium-doped carbonized polymer dots for the treatment of liver and kidney diseases. Finally, we discuss selenium-containing melanins as a previously unrecognized class of selenium-enriched biomacromolecules with exceptional radioprotective capability, arising from their conjugated structures and selenium-specific electronic properties. By integrating these structurally related yet functionally diverse systems, this account highlights general design principles for in vivo modulation using selenium polymer chemistry. Bridging the gap between biological selenium utilization and synthetic molecular design unlocks new opportunities for selenium-based therapeutics and establishes selenium-containing polymers as a distinctive platform in biomedical science.

Chemistry – A European Journal , 2026: e71812.

Three-dimensional (3D) patterning on polymer surfaces is typically achieved by photolithography or related techniques, which often involve complex procedures, high-energy ultraviolet light, and risk of material damage. Here, we report a visible light-driven strategy that exploits the dual functionality of stress relaxation via dynamic bond exchange and radical-initiated polymerization to create raised 3D patterns on diselenide-containing polyurethane films. Under mild visible light irradiation through a photomask, the diselenide bonds undergo homolytic cleavage, enabling local stress relaxation and simultaneously generating selenium radicals that polymerize a methacrylate monomer swollen in the matrix. The resulting patterns exhibit high fidelity to the mask. The method is compatible with complex templates (letters, Braille, QR codes, and photographs) and even with a commercial projector as a maskless light source. Moreover, the large modulus contrast between the patterned phase and the pristine matrix enables strain isolation, allowing conductive coatings on illuminated regions to maintain electrical continuity under stretching. This rapid, low-damage, and versatile approach provides a new route to functional 3D surface architectures for applications in tactile displays, flexible electronics, and strain-isolated devices.

Robert Hoye is an Associate Professor of Materials Chemistry atthe University of Oxford, where he is also a Fellow of St. John’sCollege and a Royal Academy of Engineering Senior Research Fellow.Prof. Hoye completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge (2012-2014), followed by a postdoc at MIT (2015-2016). In 2022, he movedto Oxford as Associate Professor. His group focuses on developinginorganic semiconductors for energy applications. His group’sresearch spans from fundamentals (including spectroscopy andcomputations) to materials synthesis and applications inphotovoltaics, light-emitting diodes and detectors.

BMEMat 2026, e70105.

Periodontitis causes progressive destruction of both periodontal soft and hard tissues, leading to tooth loss and functional impairment. Conventional treatments, such as mechanical debridement and antibiotic therapy, are often insufficient for effective regeneration due to persistent local inflammation and the complex architecture of gingival and alveolar bone defects. In this study, we developed a thermo-responsive, injectable hydrogel composed of hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC) and selenium-containing polyurethane (SePU), which undergoes rapid sol-gel transition at physiological temperature. SePU/HBC not only facilitated the adhesion and migration of human gingival fibroblasts but also effectively inhibited osteoclast formation and resorptive activity. Mechanistically, it efficiently scavenged intracellular reactive oxygen species and activated an ATF6-mediated protective unfolded protein response, thereby re-establishing endoplasmic reticulum function and preventing apoptosis. By integrating targeted stress modulation with bifunctional cellular regulation, SePU/HBC offers an innovative strategy for coordinated periodontal tissue regeneration, offering potential benefits in both early inflammation control and late-stage defect repair.

Polym. Chem. 2026; 17 (28): 3098

The fusion and fission of cellular membranes are fundamental dynamic processes in living systems, the precise regulation of which largely depends on the redox microenvironment. Constructing biomimetic model systems capable of reversible regulation under mild conditions is of great significance for understanding membrane dynamics. In this work, a class of amphiphilic block copolymers containing selenium/tellurium (Se/Te) motifs was designed and synthesized, which can self-assemble in aqueous solution into stable nanostructures. Under oxidative conditions, tellurium sites form Te–O–Te covalent crosslinks, driving inter-assembly connections and hierarchical structural evolution; in contrast, under reductive conditions, these crosslinks can be cleaved, allowing the system to revert to its initial dispersed state and exhibiting excellent reversibility. Furthermore, a fluorescence “turn-on” compartmentalized reaction model demonstrates that oxidative stimuli enable inter-compartmental substrate mixing and trigger the reaction. This work establishes a redox-controllable dynamic assembly system that recapitulates key features of redox-regulated membrane fusion and fission, providing a biomimetic platform for understanding membrane dynamics and a molecular design strategy for constructing adaptive compartmentalized reaction systems.

Professor Mohammed is a Professor at KAUST. His research focuses on advanced optoelectronic materials and devices, including solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and X-ray imaging scintillators, supported by ultrafast laser spectroscopy, 4D electron imaging, and computational materials science.

In his lecture, Professor Mohammed introduced recent advances in glassy scintillator materials for X-ray imaging. Conventional crystalline scintillators have long dominated the field owing to their high efficiency. However, their high-temperature fabrication, limited formability, challenges in large-area processing, and relatively high cost have restricted their broader application in next-generation imaging screens.To address these limitations, Professor Mohammed presented a new class of high-performance copper iodide cluster glass scintillators, including mixed-metal Mn–Cu halide glasses. He discussed their scalable fabrication strategies, optical and imaging performance, and the potential advantages of glassy materials in large-area device preparation. The lecture also highlighted ongoing efforts to scale up fabrication and promote industry collaboration, aiming to benchmark material performance and advance these scintillators toward commercial validation.

Professor Lehn reviewed the evolution of chemistry from molecular chemistry to supramolecular and adaptive chemistry. He first highlighted how molecular chemistry enables the construction of increasingly complex molecules through precise control of covalent bonds. He then introduced supramolecular chemistry, in which molecular components are organized through non-covalent interactions to achieve functions such as molecular recognition, catalysis, transport and self-assembly.

A central theme of the lecture was the role of molecular information. Professor Lehn explained that chemical information can be encoded in molecular structures and expressed at the supramolecular level through specific interaction patterns. This perspective allows chemistry to be viewed as a science of informed matter.

He further discussed constitutional dynamic chemistry, which involves reversible molecular and supramolecular systems capable of exchanging components and reorganizing their structures. Such dynamic diversity enables chemical systems to respond to internal or external stimuli, undergo selection, and display adaptive behavior.

The lecture provided a broad and forward-looking perspective on the development of modern chemistry. By connecting molecular construction, supramolecular organization and dynamic adaptation, Professor Lehn offered valuable insights into the design of increasingly complex, responsive and potentially evolutive chemical systems.

Following the lecture, Professor Xi Zhang presented Professor Lehn with the Centennial Celebration Academic Forum Invited Lectureship certificate.

Prof. Jonathan Nitschke received his bachelor’s degree from Williams College (USA) in 1995 and his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley in 2001 under the supervision of T. DonTilley. He then undertook postdoctoral studies with Jean-MarieLehn in Strasbourg under the auspices of a US NSF fellowship, and in 2003 he started his independent research career as a Maitre-assistant (fixed-term independent PI) in the Organic Chemistry Department of the University of Geneva. In 2007 he was appointed University Lecturer at Cambridge, where he now holds a Professorship. His research program investigates the self-assembly of complex, functional structures from simple organic precursorsand metal ions.

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2026, 18, 19, 27128

Shape morphing materials possess an enhanced adaptability to diverse environments while minimizing material usage and energy consumption. The main challenge in this area lies in applying the driving force and stimuli in a rapid, precise, and cost-effective manner to enhance the efficiency of mass production with more variety, lower cost, and better sustainability. This perspective summarizes methods and strategies developed recently for polymer shape morphing via dynamic chemistries, from the traditional method using externally applied force to unconventional preloaded force or force mismatch. We further highlight representative efforts and contributions from our research group in this area. These newly developed strategies strive to balance the competing demands of scalability, transformation efficiency, and structural fidelity and complexity of the resulting architectures, thereby extending shape morphing into previously inaccessible regimes.

Fellow is the highest membership grade of the Chinese Chemical Society, awarded to distinguished members who have made systematic and creative achievements as well as significant contributions to chemistry and related fields. Since the establishment of the Fellow system in 2019, no more than 50 Fellows have been elected each year, and there are 346 Fellows to date.

Warm congratulations to Prof. Xu!