Cover Feature: Cross‐Linking Building Blocks Using a “Boronate Bridge” to Build Functional Hybrid Materials (ChemNanoMat 2/2019)

Boronic acid-diol or boronate-diol interactions have been used to construct molecular-scale self-assemblies. Nakahata et al. regard boronic acid as a functional cross-linker to bridge different materials. Beginning from fundamental properties of boronic acids, recent research on functional nanomaterials cross-linked with boronic acids is summarized. Functional properties of boronic acid moieties such as molecular selectivity and stimuli-responsiveness impart the materials with characteristic features suitable for applications such as release systems, dynamic materials, and bioactive surfaces and scaffolds. More information can be found in the Minireview by Masaki Nakahata et al. on page 141 in Issue 2, 2019 (DOI: 10.1002/cnma.201800435).