From Skyscraper to Molecule: How the Shanghai Tower Inspired a Recyclable Helical Polymer

Under the leadership of Nobel Laureate Professor Ben Feringa from the University of Groningen, researchers have successfully designed and synthesized a new polymer that behaves much like a living system—able to coil and uncoil in response to temperature and even break itself down into its original building blocks. Inspired by the architectural design of the Shanghai Tower, this discovery marks the creation of the first synthetic polymer that can both change its shape dynamically and recycle itself at a molecular level. The project, which took more than five years and the collaboration of six institutions across three countries, reflects how inspiration from human-made structures can lead to major advances in molecular science.

Zhang, Q., Nicu, V. P., Buma, W. J., Tian, H., Qu, D.-H., & Feringa, B. L. (2025). Dual dynamic helical poly(disulfide)s with conformational adaptivity and configurational recyclability. Nature Chemistry, 17(10), 1462–1468. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01947-0

The Shanghai Tower’s spiraling design served as the spark for this research. During a visit to China several years ago, Professor Feringa and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Qi Zhang stood at the top of the tower, surrounded by the sweeping helical structure. The view prompted a discussion about whether a similar spiral pattern could be created at the molecular level. According to Zhang, Feringa sketched the initial concept on a napkin during that same visit, setting the foundation for years of design, synthesis, and testing that would follow.

Ben Feringa from the University of Groningen stated,

“These helical polymers could be suitable for biomaterials. For example, they might interact with cell membranes or proteins.”

Biological systems are filled with helical shapes. DNA, with its double helix, and proteins, with their alpha-helical structures, use spirals to store and transmit information or to form complex molecular frameworks. In materials science, scientists have long tried to mimic these natural structures using synthetic molecules, but until now, they had only succeeded in creating polymers that either changed shape or could be recycled—never both. This dual functionality represents a new category of adaptive and sustainable materials.

The new polymer was designed using molecular building blocks derived from amino acids, connected by flexible disulfide bonds. These dynamic covalent bonds give the molecule its unique ability to reshape itself and later deconstruct into smaller fragments when exposed to specific chemical conditions. At low temperatures, the polymer coils tightly into a spring-like helix. When heated, it uncoils into a more extended structure, demonstrating a reversible transformation that is both thermodynamically stable and fully controllable.

The reversible folding and unfolding process mirrors the adaptability seen in natural biomolecules, such as proteins that shift shape in response to environmental changes. This adaptability is key to the polymer’s potential applications, as it allows for self-regulating materials that could be tailored for specific functions, such as temperature-sensitive coatings, adaptive sensors, or responsive biomedical scaffolds.

Another remarkable feature of this polymer is its ability to break down into its monomers under certain chemical conditions. Unlike most synthetic plastics, which persist for decades and often create environmental waste, this polymer can return to its original chemical components without harsh degradation processes. This makes it a potential model for future materials designed with full circularity in mind, aligning with growing global efforts toward sustainable chemistry and green manufacturing.

The study represents a major international collaboration, involving scientists from institutions in the Netherlands, Germany, and China. While based at the University of Groningen, the research drew on expertise in polymer chemistry, molecular design, spectroscopy, and materials analysis from partner universities and laboratories.

Dr. Qi Zhang, a key member of Feringa’s research team, explained that developing the molecule required deep interdisciplinary cooperation. The project involved iterative testing to fine-tune the balance between flexibility and stability in the polymer chain, ensuring that the helical structure could form and reform without losing integrity. According to Zhang, “We had to learn from biology and engineering simultaneously. The molecule is both delicate and resilient—it behaves more like a biological entity than a static synthetic material.”

The new polymer operates according to a simple but powerful principle: molecular self-organization guided by dynamic covalent chemistry. This approach allows the material to behave almost like a living system, capable of adjusting and repairing itself at the molecular level. Such adaptability could lead to new types of responsive biomaterials, where polymers interact with living tissues or respond to physiological cues. For example, in medicine, such a polymer could be used for targeted drug delivery systems that change shape at body temperature or degrade safely after performing their function.

In other areas, this discovery could transform how engineers design recyclable plastics, reducing waste and improving material efficiency. The ability to depolymerize without high heat or toxic solvents means the same material could be reused repeatedly without degradation, creating a closed-loop material lifecycle. It could also find applications in soft robotics, where flexible and adaptive polymers are crucial for building artificial muscles and sensors that respond to environmental stimuli.

From a scientific perspective, this work challenges long-held assumptions about synthetic materials. Until now, synthetic polymers were seen largely as static, one-use systems. This discovery demonstrates that they can instead be dynamic, reversible, and even self-renewing under the right chemical conditions. It also highlights how molecular architecture—how atoms are arranged in three-dimensional space—can dictate entirely new forms of behavior.

Although the current polymer works only in organic solvents, future research aims to modify its chemistry so it can function in water-based environments, making it more compatible with biological applications. This would open the door to biodegradable materials that could safely interact with living systems or dissolve harmlessly in nature after use.

For Professor Feringa and his team, this is just the beginning. Their next goal is to expand the concept to create families of polymers with different sensitivities—not just temperature, but also light, pH, and chemical signals. Such materials could adapt to a range of conditions and perform complex functions autonomously.

The development of the first synthetic dynamic helical polymer marks a turning point in materials chemistry. What began as a simple sketch inspired by the elegant spiral of the Shanghai Tower has evolved into a molecular structure that merges the adaptability of life with the precision of synthetic chemistry. Professor Ben Feringa and his international team have opened a new chapter in polymer science one where materials are not merely manufactured but are designed to evolve, respond, and renew themselves over time.

This work demonstrates how a single architectural observation can ripple across disciplines, influencing chemistry, materials science, and engineering. It represents both a technological and philosophical shift, suggesting that the next generation of materials may no longer be passive structures but active participants in their environments—flexible, functional, and fundamentally sustainable.