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Author: Stephen Yeung

What does it take to edit a PÕ¾ÊÓƵ Reference? About 30 years experience in the field and a commitment to the motto, "dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capability, and aspiration for progress with each passing day."

As part of our series of blog posts focusing on PÕ¾ÊÓƵ References, we spoke to Yu Liu, editor of Handbook of Macrocyclic Supramolecular Assembly and Professor of Chemistry at Nankai University College of Chemistry in China.

Can you tell us why you chose the field of macrocyclic supramolecular chemistry in the first place and why you have stayed with it for so many years?

I believe that macrocyclic supramolecular chemistry provides an innovative pathway to build highly organized macrostructures with defined size, shape, and structure and to perform certain unique properties, or functions, to address the need for new materials to support scientific development and economic growth.

Beside scientific discoveries, I have been training more than 150 postgraduates in the past 30 years. Graduation of each student gives me a lot of confidence and courage to continue my research career in the field of macrocyclic supramolecular chemistry research.

Can you comment on the current status of development in macrocyclic supramolecular chemistry?

After more than 30 years of rapid development, supramolecular chemistry becomes highly interdisciplinary with life sciences, informatics, and materials science, as you can see from the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987 and 2016. As mentioned, supramolecular assembling allows scientists to create new materials at molecular level for many different applications. I believe it will continue to be one key growth point in chemistry in this new era.

Why did you edit this large reference book [Handbook of Macrocyclic Supramolecular Chemistry]? Why do you think this book can help other students/colleagues in this field?

I have worked in the chemistry discipline of Nankai University for nearly 30 years. Established in 1921 as one of the first chemistry departments to be founded in Chinese universities, the chemistry discipline of Nankai University enjoys a high reputation for its time-honored development and deep-rooted history. For nearly a century, Nankai Chemistry has worked following the principle of the University’s motto: "Dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capability, and aspiration for progress with each passing day", as well as the doctrine of "Knowing China, serving China". Nankai Chemistry has been committed to propelling both the development of the economy and the discipline of Chemistry. A particular emphasis is placed on talent training and scientific research, which form its great contribution to the thriving of the Chinese national economy and of social construction.

The year of 2019 is the 100th anniversary of Nankai University, and the year of 2021 is the centennial of Chemistry in Nankai University. The idea of dedications to both the 100th anniversary of Nankai University and the forthcoming centennial ceremony of the chemistry discipline of Nankai University triggers such a large editorial work. This handbook is planned to cover all the aspects in macrocyclic supramolecular chemistry from building principles to latest applications. The main topics within 59 chapters include but not limited to: (1) Construction and structure (key building block, construction method, structural motif and stimuli responsive control); (2) Approach and technology (controllable synthesis, molecular recognition, spectral and thermodynamic study, supramolecular assembly at interface, orthogonal self-assembly, supramolecular organic framework, molecular induced aggregation, theoretical calculation, and molecular simulation); (3) Applications (chemical and biological sensing, theranostic tool, molecule/ion channel, drug/gene delivery, supramolecule-assisted biomolecule production, supramolecule-assisted transmembrane transport, supramolecule-assisted immunity regulation, and supramolecule-based medicinal drug).

I strongly hope that this book gives scientists, students, scholars with different backgrounds a comprehensive reference about the field and also takes this chance to introduce remarkable young Chinese scientists to the research community.

Can you share your experience of working with PÕ¾ÊÓƵ in this editorial process?

One remarkable thing I can comment about PÕ¾ÊÓƵ's editorial team is that they are "professional and dedicated." Springer’s editors, especially Ms. Haiqin Dong, Dr. Lijuan Wang and Dr. Stephen Yeung, worked very hard to provide thoughtful editorial support during the preparation, submission, review, proofreading and publication of this book. In responding to author enquiries, they always replied in a short time with details. I can say that this collaboration with the PÕ¾ÊÓƵ is a very pleasant experience.

presents recent advances and offers a comprehensive reference resource covering the developments in and applications of macrocyclic supramolecular assembly, with a focus on their construction, structural characters and biological functions. The main topics addressed include: 

Construction and structure of macrocyclic supramolecular assembly – key building blocks, construction methods, structural motifs, and stimuli-responsive control

Approach and technology – controllable synthesis, molecular recognition, spectral and thermodynamic study, supramolecular assembly at interfaces, orthogonal self-assembly, the supramolecular organic framework (SOF), molecular induced aggregation, supramolecule assisted 3D printing, theoretical calculation and molecular simulation 

Biological applications – chemical and biological sensing, theranostic tools, molecule/ion channels, drug/gene delivery, supramolecule assisted biomolecule production, supramolecule assisted transmembrane transport, supramolecule assisted immunity regulation, supramolecule-based medicinal drug, etc. 

This handbook appeals to graduate and undergraduate students as well as scientists with interests in supramolecular chemistry, biochemistry, functional material and nanotechnology.