The WaSP (Waste-free Dissipative Supramolecular Polymerization) project is part of the emerging field of Supramolecular Systems Chemistry, which has moved beyond self-assembled structures at thermodynamic equilibrium to focus on dissipative systems. Unlike previous methods, where external factors such as solvent or temperature were adjusted to influence molecular assemblies, current approaches focus on switching small molecules between active and inactive states. In the active state, molecules self-assemble, while in the inactive state, they disassemble.

One of the key challenges in these systems is the accumulation of chemical waste, which can dampen or completely inhibit the process. The WaSP proposal seeks to address this issue by developing waste-free chemical processes. Inspired by the human body’s efficient waste filtration via the kidneys, the project aims to create artificial systems capable of filtering out unwanted byproducts to prevent clogging in microfluidic devices.