In biological systems, life process is led by the unique behavior of macromolecules such as proteins and DNA. Molecular recognition by macromolecules plays an important role, for example, in substrate specificity of enzymes and antigen-antibody reactions in human life. Selective molecular recognition among macromolecules is achieved through a large number of weak interactions. We have focused our attention on the special behavior of antibodies, especially monoclonal antibodies, because they can recognize a larger and more complicated compound with high specificity than that can synthetic host molecules or enzymes.
In this laboratory, we develop novel materials through hybridization of bio-related macromolecules such as monoclonal antibodies with artificial/synthetic small molecules. We construct functionalized catalytic and energy conversion systems based on specific molecular recognition of biomacromolecules and selective assembly of bio/synthetic molecules.
July 1, 2026
A paper by Mr. Li, a third-year doctoral student, entitled "Toughening elastomer via sequentially activated multi-pathway energy dissipation" was published in Nature Communications (added to Publications).
June 29, 2026
Assistant Professor Kobayashi has been selected as a research member of the KAKENHI Transformative Research Areas (B) project, "Precision Sulfur Activation".
June 25, 2026
At the 64th Annual Meeting of the Adhesion Society of Japan, Assistant Professor Kobayashi, Mr. Ryunosuke Kamioka, Mr. Shun Hashimoto, and Professor Hiroyasu Yamaguchi received the Adhesion Society of Japan Paper Award for their paper entitled "Synthesis and Properties of Supramolecular Sulfur-Containing Polymers."
June 19, 2026
Xiao, a project researcher in our laboratory, will be moving to the Yang Jiao Group at Peking University.
Xiao joined our laboratory as a master's student, completed his doctoral studies here, and continued his research as a project researcher. Over the past six and a half years, he has devoted himself to supramolecular chemistry research.
We sincerely thank him for the many positive contributions and inspirations he has brought to our laboratory.
All members of our laboratory wish him every success in this exciting new chapter. Thank you for a wonderful six and a half years!!
June 18, 2026
Our laboratory members participated in today's softball tournament and finished in an impressive fourth place!
The games featured both excellent and amusing plays, and everyone had a great time encouraging one another and playing together.
Although we narrowly missed the podium, the tournament provided an excellent opportunity to further strengthen the bonds among our laboratory members.
The MVP was Ms. Onishi, who achieved an incredible batting average of 1.000!
May 21, 2026
Project Researcher Yamawaki received the Young Researcher Excellence Presentation Award at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Society of Rubber Science and Technology, Japan, for his presentation entitled "Synthetic Strategies and Material Properties of Siloxane-Based Materials Incorporating Sulfur Chains into Their Main Frameworks" (also featured on the Graduate School of Science website).
May 21, 2026
Assistant Professor Kobayashi received the CERI Young Researcher Encouragement Award from the Society of Rubber Science and Technology, Japan, for his research entitled "Quantitative Analysis of Sulfur Crosslinking Structures Using Polymers with Controlled Sulfur Chain Lengths and Visualization of Their Mechanical Properties and Viscoelastic Behavior" (also featured on the Graduate School of Science website).
April 1, 2026
Assistant Professor Kobayashi's project was selected for the KSAC-GAP Fund PMF Program.
April 1, 2026
Project Researcher Yoshida was featured in the 49th installment of the Chemical Society of Japan's series, "Gather, Young Chemists!"
March 27, 2026
Assistant Professor Kobayashi received the Excellence Award in the Manufacturing Category of the 22nd Innovation Research and Development Grant Program of Senshu Ikeda Bank for his project entitled "Research, Development, and Social Implementation of Environmentally Friendly Sulfur Polymers Produced through the Upcycling of Waste Sulfur" (also featured on the Graduate School of Science website).
March 19, 2026
We held our farewell party for the 2025 academic year.
Congratulations to Okamoto, Kamioka, Hashimoto, and Matsuda on completing your degrees!
We hope you will carry your wonderful memories of student life with you as you spread your wings and embark on new adventures!
February 16, 2026
Project Researcher Yamawaki received the Best Presentation Award at the 6th Young Researchers Presentation and Exchange Meeting for his presentation entitled "Conversion of Waste Sulfur into Functional Materials through Environmentally Benign Synthesis" (also featured on the Graduate School of Science website).
February 10, 2026
Assistant Professor Kobayashi was interviewed by the Gomutimes and featured in Polymer TECH Vol. 28.
@
January 28, 2026
At the 24th Industry?Government?Academia Young Researchers Forum on Adhesion,
Mr. Aoki, a fourth-year undergraduate student, received an Excellent Poster Award for his presentation entitled "Synthesis of Sulfur-Containing Crosslinked Polymers through Step-Growth Polymerization,"
and Mr. Mizushima, also a fourth-year undergraduate student, received an Excellent Poster Award for his presentation entitled "Synthesis and Thermal Curing Behavior of Sulfur-Containing Polymers with Unsaturated Side-Chain Groups."
Their achievements were also featured on the Graduate School of Science website.
A video introducing the NEDO Young Researcher Support Program project, "Development of Technologies for Producing High-Performance Plastics from Waste Sulfur," is also now available.
In biological systems, life process is led by the unique behavior of macromolecules such as proteins and DNA. Molecular recognition by macromolecules plays an important role, for example, in substrate specificity of enzymes and antigen-antibody reactions in human life. Selective molecular recognition among macromolecules is achieved through a large number of weak interactions. We have focused our attention on the special behavior of antibodies, especially monoclonal antibodies, because they can recognize a larger and more complicated compound with high specificity than that can synthetic host molecules or enzymes. 
News & Topics
@
