CME PMSE: 2026 ACS Global Outstanding Student in Polymer Science and Engineering

International Team Winners from the University of Manchester, UK. – Lei Chen (Student) and Guillaume De Bo (Mentor)

Bio by Author: Dr. Lei Chen received his B.Sc. from East China University of Science and Technology in 2010 and his M.Sc. from Fudan University in 2013. Following several years of industrial experience, he pursued his Ph.D. at the University of Manchester under the supervision of Prof. Guillaume De Bo, where he focused on mechanically responsive materials based on rotaxane actuators. After successfully completing his Ph.D. in 2023, Dr Chen continued his work as a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. De Bo’s group, further investigating the field of mechanically responsive molecular systems. In 2026, he started his independent academic career at Soochow University.

Bio by Grok: Lei Chen is a researcher in organic and supramolecular chemistry, affiliated with the University of Manchester (Ph.D. completed ~2023 under Prof. Guillaume De Bo). His work focuses on mechanochemistry, force-controlled molecular release, rotaxane actuators, and force-promoted reactions in cyclobutenes and threaded systems for advanced materials and controlled release applications. Notable achievements include co-authoring high-profile publications such as “Force-controlled release of small molecules with a rotaxane actuator” (Nature, 2024, cited >90 times). He previously worked in industry as an analytical scientist for six years before pursuing his doctorate. His contributions emphasize substituent effects in mechanochemical processes and innovative actuator designs. His h-index is approximately 10–12 (Google Scholar, based on emerging citations from key works in high-impact journals). 20260313.

2026 CME NASA Symposium Abstract – Mechanical activation with rotaxane actuators

In polymer mechanochemistry, mechanophores (mechanosensitive molecules) are usually activated by pulling force transduced by polymer covalently attached to their structures. However, this approach doesn’t allow the activation of multiple mechanophores as the actuating polymers separate from each other after the first activation. To address this challenge, we developed a rotaxane actuator that activates mechanophores via a unique pushing mechanism. The pushing activation not only exhibits enhanced efficiency and selectivity relative to traditional pulling method1 but also induces unique conformational transition in the rotaxane macrocycle that cannot be achieved through conventional stimuli such as thermal or photochemical activation.2 Moreover, the rotaxane actuator allows for multiple cargo release from a single polymer chain3 and enables selective release with logic-gated manner. 4,5

Figure 1. The rotaxane actuator demonstrates unique pushing activation, exhibiting enhanced efficiency and selectivity over conventional pulling mechanisms.
(1) Chen, L.; De Bo, G. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146 (24), 16381–16384.
(2) Chen, L.; De Bo, G. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64 (41), e202516485.
(3) Chen, L.; Nixon, R.; De Bo, G. Nature 2024, 628, 320.
(4) Chen, L.; De Bo, G. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64 (37), e202512698.
(5) Chen, L.; De Bo, G. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64 (37), e202511039.