protper

Protper is a term used in speculative materials science and science fiction to denote a programmable porous polymer matrix with tunable pore structure and surface chemistry. Conceptually, protper envisions a single scaffold that combines porosity with molecular-level control, enabling selective transport and localized reaction sites.

The name protper is a portmanteau of porous and protein-like or perforated features, and is used in thought experiments to describe networks of crosslinked oligomers capable of rearranging in response to stimuli, producing adjustable pore sizes.

In designed scenarios, protper would exhibit a pore size range from sub-nanometer to tens of nanometers, with mechanical robustness, chemical resilience, and compatibility with diverse solvents. Surface functionalities might be reconfigurable via external triggers such as light, pH, or redox state, allowing selective binding or catalysis. Some fictional accounts include self-healing and reversible assembly.

Synthesis in these contexts is hypothetical, with ideas including self-assembling monomers, supramolecular polymers, or templating approaches like DNA origami, followed by post-synthetic modification.

Potential applications in theory include advanced filtration, gas separation, heterogeneous catalysis, biosensing, and targeted drug delivery, where a single material can adapt its pore architecture as needed.

Real-world status: protper remains a speculative or fictional concept and has no established experimental realization; challenges cited include scalable manufacturing, stability under operating conditions, and reproducibility. Related topics include porous materials, metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, programmable matter, and self-healing materials.