The first water-soluble pillar[n]arene (n = 5) dimer was successfully synthesized. This dimer can complex with carboxylate anion-functionalized tetraphenyl ethylene to form a reversible fluorescent supramolecular polymer network in water.

A novel pH-responsive molecular recognition motif was built between a cavity extended water-soluble resorcin[4]arene and paraquat in water. The controllable self-assembly behaviour of a supramolecular amphiphile constructed from it was further investigated.

Well-defined nanostructures were constructed by self-assembling hexamethylenediamine-functionalized tetrachloroperylene bisimides (compound A) in water/acetone. These structures could further reversibly transform into fluorescent vesicles by adding and removing water-soluble pillar[5]arene.

A soft gel based on pillar[5]arene was successfully prepared using a carbazone reaction. Furthermore, dyes such as TPP or TPPE can be incorporated into this gel and were observed to be released in a sustained way in water due to solvent exchange.

A new water-soluble cyclotriveratrylene (WCTV) was designed and synthesized, and benzyldimethyldodecylammonium chloride (G) was chosen as the guest molecule to construct a supra-amphiphile by the host–guest interaction between WCTV and G in water, which is pH responsive. The supra-amphiphiles self-assembled into vesicles in water. When the pH of the solution was below 7.0, the supra-amphiphile disassociated, and the vesicles collapsed. Then, the pH-responsive self-assembly system was utilized for controlled drug release.

A fluorescent supramolecular polymer was efficiently constructed by pillar[5]arene-based host–guest molecular recognition and zinc ion coordination.

The first γ-radiation responsive linear supramolecular via pillararene-based host–guest recognition polymer was built successfully. What is more, this supramolecular polymer exhibited dual redox responsiveness.

A Cu2+ specific metallohydrogel was constructed from a terpyridine-based low molecular weight ligand. The metallohydrogel showed multi-responsive gel-to-sol transitions and pillar[5]arene-induced nanofiber-to-vesicle transformation at the nanoscale.

A pillar[5]arene-based [2]pseudorotaxane was successfully synthesized. The damage and re-formation of it could be controlled by adding Ag2O and CF3COOH, respectively. The special metalloresponsiveness makes this novel host–guest recognition motif have broad potential applications in a number of areas.

A pillar[5]arene with mono(ethylene oxide) substituents could form a highly stable [2]pseudorotaxane with a rigid guest both in solution and in the solid state.

Well-defined nano-sunflowers were constructed by self-assembling a rod-coil amphiphile in water, and their morphologies transformed by addition of a water soluble pillar[5]arene and Ag2O were also investigated.

A water-soluble linear supramolecular polymer was efficiently constructed driven by pillar[5]arene-based host–guest molecular recognition.

A water-soluble linear supramolecular polymer was efficiently constructed driven by pillar[5]arene-based host–guest molecular recognition.

A Cu2+ specific metallohydrogel was constructed from a terpyridine-based low molecular weight ligand. The metallohydrogel showed multi-responsive gel-to-sol transitions and pillar[5]arene-induced nanofiber-to-vesicle transformation at the nanoscale.

Well-defined nanostructures were constructed by self-assembling hexamethylenediamine-functionalized tetrachloroperylene bisimides (compound A) in water/acetone. These structures could further reversibly transform into fluorescent vesicles by adding and removing water-soluble pillar[5]arene.

Well-defined nano-sunflowers were constructed by self-assembling a rod-coil amphiphile in water, and their morphologies transformed by addition of a water soluble pillar[5]arene and Ag2O were also investigated.

A pillar[5]arene with mono(ethylene oxide) substituents could form a highly stable [2]pseudorotaxane with a rigid guest both in solution and in the solid state.

A fluorescent supramolecular polymer was efficiently constructed by pillar[5]arene-based host–guest molecular recognition and zinc ion coordination.

The first γ-radiation responsive linear supramolecular via pillararene-based host–guest recognition polymer was built successfully. What is more, this supramolecular polymer exhibited dual redox responsiveness.

The first water-soluble pillar[n]arene (n = 5) dimer was successfully synthesized. This dimer can complex with carboxylate anion-functionalized tetraphenyl ethylene to form a reversible fluorescent supramolecular polymer network in water.