The ability to program sol–gel transition in time is key for living organisms to maintain their vital functions and to grow complex materials. Replicating this behavior with synthetic chemical networks is challenging, but highly rewarding for the design of intelligent biomimetic materials. Thanks to a combination of autocatalysis and supramolecular complexation, the iodate–hydroxymethanesulfinate–poly(vinyl alcohol) system features the emergence of self-propagating gelation fronts, stable or transient depending on the fine-tuning of the system.

中文翻译：

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稳定且瞬时的自蔓延超分子凝胶化

及时编程溶胶-凝胶转变的能力是生物体维持其重要功能和生长复杂材料的关键。用合成化学网络复制这种行为具有挑战性，但对于智能仿生材料的设计来说是非​​常有益的。由于结合了自催化和超分子络合，碘酸盐-羟基甲亚磺酸盐-聚（乙烯醇）系统具有自蔓延凝胶前沿的出现，取决于系统的微调，稳定或瞬态。