Harnessing the Power of Force: Development of Mechanophores for Molecular Release

Polymers that release small molecules in response to mechanical force are promising materials for a variety of applications ranging from sensing and catalysis to targeted drug delivery. Within the rapidly growing field of polymer mechanochemistry, stress-sensitive molecules known as mechanophores are particularly attractive for enabling the release of covalently bound payloads with excellent selectivity and control. Here, we review recent progress in the development of mechanophore-based molecular release platforms and provide an optimistic, yet critical perspective on the fundamental and technological advancements that are still required for this promising research area to achieve significant impact.

Automated summary

Mechanophores, stress-sensitive molecules that release small molecules from polymers, show great promise in achieving selective and controlled release of covalently bound payloads. While the field of polymer mechanochemistry is rapidly advancing, further fundamental and technological advancements are still needed for significant impact in this research area.