This PMM was originally planned to be held in July 2020 and first postponed in July 2021. It is again postponed and rescheduled for July 24–28, 2022.

This conference was initially planned to be held from May 18-22, 2020 and postpone to October 5-9, 2020. Ultimately, it was rescheduled 12-14 April 2021.

The publication frequency of Journal of Polymer Science and Engineering（JPSE） is bi-annual. All articles that have been accepted will be online in time without delay. We welcome the high-quality original articles significant in all disciplines of traditional fields of polymer science chemistry, physics and engineering involving polymers, but also within interdisciplinary developing fields, such as functional and specialty polymers, biomaterials, polymers and drug delivery, polymers in electronic applications, composites, conducting polymers, liquid crystalline materials and the interphases between polymers and ceramics, and new fabrication techniques, etc.

Editorial Office of Journal of Polymer Science and Engineering (JPSE)

Polymer gel materials have been widely applied in medicine, civil engineering, architecture and space exploration. Their appeal lies in the potential for preparing functional materials with consistent properties, via simple and easily reproducible methods. However, the compromise between method simplicity and optimized material performance means that not all gel materials fulfill their potential. Now a group of researchers at Nagoya University has established a process that combines the ease of a spontaneous process with the high molecular weight control required for producing high-performance materials. Their findings were published in NPG Asia Materials.

To combat multiresistant bacteria and discover new antibiotics, scientists increasingly turn to the design and exploration of short artificial polymers. As these polymers can mimic the powerful peptide antibiotics, Paul J. Ragogna and Beth Gillies at Western University, London, ON (Canada), and their groups focus on phosphorus-containing polymers, the polyphosphoniums. Their molecular structure consists of a hydrocarbon backbone and a positively charged phosphorus center in every repeat unit. A balanced display of hydrophobic alkyl chains and positive charges was considered essential for effective adhesion to bacterial cells and membrane disruption. Envisaging still more effective cell lysis, the scientists started to fine-tune this amphiphilic nature of the polyphosphoniums.

However, a collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering and Wickliffe, Ohio-based Lubrizol Corporation has unlocked the secrets of PIB's reaction mechanism. The group's findings were published this month in the journal ACS Catalysis.

Principal investigator is Karl Johnson, the William Kepler Whiteford Professor in the Swanson School's Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering. Funding for the research was provided by Lubrizol, which in 2014 established a $1.2 million strategic partnership with the Department and Swanson School to jumpstart research innovation that also offers opportunities for undergraduates to participate.