Self-assembled nanocages for hydrophilic guest molecules

Reverse polymeric micelles are obtained following the association of polymeric amphiphiles in apolar media. To this date, reports of pharmaceutical applications for such micelles have been scarce, mainly because these systems have been studied in solvents that are not suitable for medical use. Here, alkylated star-shaped poly(glycerol methacrylate) polymers have been proposed in the design of oil-soluble reverse polymeric micelles. Micellar behavior was studied in various apolar solvents, including ethyl oleate, a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. The polymers were shown to assemble into spherical nanostructures (<40 nm) as determined by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy studies. Interestingly, the reverse micelles were able to encapsulate various peptides/proteins (vasopressin, myoglobin, and albumin) in substantial amounts and facilitate their solubilization in oil. The nature of both the polymer used in micelle formation and the guest molecules was found to influence the ability of the micelle to interact with hydrophilic compounds.     

Determination of binding energies between cyclodextrins and aromatic guest molecules by microcalorimetry

The inclusion of substituted benzoic acids in -CD or selectively methylated -CDs was investigated by titration microcalorimetry. All thermodynamic functions of the inclusion process G°, H° and S° could be obtained very accurately within one experiment. A very strong influence of the substitution pattern at both the host and the guest on the stability of the inclusion compounds was found.     

Multivalent binding of small guest molecules and proteins to molecular printboards inside microchannels

Beta-Cyclodextrin (beta-CD) monolayers have been immobilized in microchannels. The host-guest interactions on the beta-CD monolayers inside the channels were comparable to the interactions on beta-CD monolayers on planar surfaces, and a divalent fluorescent guest attached with a comparable binding strength. Proteins were attached to these monolayers inside microchannels in a selective manner by employing a strategy that uses streptavidin and orthogonal linker molecules. The design of the chip, which involved a large channel that splits into four smaller channels, allowed the channels to be addressed separately and led to the selective immobilization of antibodies. Experiments with labeled antibodies showed the selective immobilization of these antibodies in the separate channels.     

The binding of difunctional neutral guest molecules by novel bis(tripyrrolyl) cryptands

Bis(tripyrrolyl) cryptands are prepared via a [2 + 3] Schiff base condensation of formyltripyrrolyls with diamines; an ethyl-spaced hexapyrrole cryptand is shown to bind strongly ethane-1,2-diamine and ethane-1,2-diol in chloroform solution.     

Analysis of guest molecules in clathrasils

Species included in clathrasils have been analyzed by quantitative IR spectroscopy. In the case of dodecasil 3C, with benzene or piperidine as guest molecules, results showed that only one out of 16 or 8 suitable cavities in the clathrasil structure is occupied. This means that a very low quantity of template molecules is sufficient for the crystal growth.     

Polarimetry as a useful tool for the determination of binding constants between cyclodextrins and organic guest molecules

Binding constants for cyclodextrin inclusion complexes can be easily estimated by means of simple polarimetric measurements. Determinations are as reliable and accurate as those obtained by means of other more sophisticated techniques, and take advantage by the limited waste of material required. Our results are briefly compared with literature values obtained by means of different techniques.     

Binding of small guest molecules to multivalent receptors

The complexation of phenol derivatives, aromatic carboxylic acids, and n-octylgalactopyranoside by hydrogen-bonded exo-receptors is described. The receptors are formed by self-assembly of differently functionalized calix[4]arene dimelamines with 5,5-diethyl barbiturate or butyl cyanurate. The multivalent complementary recognition site of the receptors is used very efficiently to complex multiple guests. A 1:6 binding mode was observed for phenol derivatives forming single hydrogen bonds with all six recognition sites of an ureido functionalized receptor assembly, while 1:3 complexation was observed for phenol derivatives which form two hydrogen bonds with two different ureido recognition sites of the same receptor. Aromatic carboxylic acids are complexed in a 1:6 ratio by receptors having six amino recognition sites. The complexation of n-octylgalactopyranoside by Gly-L-Ser functionalized receptors is also described, indicating that it is possible to use small peptidic fragments to complex biologically important molecules.     

Orientation of guest molecules in doped organic crystals

The orientation of guest molecules in the doped systems, naphthalene-in-anthracene, anthracene-in-naphthalene and tetracene-in-anthracene has been obtained by the use of atom-atom (6-1-exp) potentials. The results indicate that the guest molecules assume nearly the same orientation as the replaced host with only small perturbation on the host lattice. The results are in good agreement with recent ESR studies.     

Diffusion of guest molecules in MCM-41 agglomerates

The pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance method has been used to study self-diffusion of cyclohexane in a commercial MCM-41 material at different external gas pressures from zero to saturated vapor pressure. It is found that the effective diffusivities exhibit three different regions with increasing pressure: decrease at low pressures, a sudden drop at intermediate pressures, and increase at higher pressures. In addition, in the region of irreversible adsorption (hysteresis loop) the diffusivities are also found to differ on the adsorption and the desorption branches. A simple analytical model taking account of different molecular ensembles with different transport properties due to the complex architecture of the porous structure is developed which provides a quantitative prediction of the experimental data. The analysis reveals that the effective diffusivity is predominantly controlled by the adsorption properties of the individual mesoporous MCM-41 crystallites which, in combination with high transport rates, provide a simple instrument for fine tuning of the transport properties by a subtle variation of the external conditions.     

Synthesis of peptide dendrimers based on a β-cyclodextrin core with guest binding ability

The synthesis of three first-order dendrimers based on a β-cyclodextrin core containing fourteen Val, Phe and Val-Phe residues is described. The guest binding ability of the tetradecavalent peptidyl β-cyclodextrin derivative has been tested by calorimetric titration and the thermodynamic parameters for the complex formation with adamantanecarboxylic acid were obtained.     

NMR shielding constants for hydrogen guest molecules in structure II clathrates

Proton NMR shielding constants and chemical shifts for hydrogen guests in small and large cages of structure II clathrates are calculated using density-functional theory and the gauge-invariant atomic-orbital method. Shielding constants are calculated at the B3LYP level with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The calculated chemical shifts are corrected with a linear regression to reproduce the experimental chemical shifts of a set of standard molecules. The calculated chemical shifts of single hydrogen molecules in the small and large structure II cages are 4.94 and 4.84 ppm, respectively, which show that within the error range of the method the H2 guest molecules in the small and large cages cannot be distinguished. Chemical shifts are also calculated for double occupancy of the hydrogen guests in small cages, and double, triple, and quadruple occupancy in large cages. Multiple occupancy changes the chemical shift of the hydrogen guests by approximately 0.2 ppm. The relative effects of other guest molecules and the cage on the chemical shift are studied for the cages with multiple occupancies.     

A six-bowl carceplex that entraps seven guest molecules

A six-bowl carceplex that entraps seven guest molecules, 5.(DMSO)7, was synthesized and characterized. The dynamics of the host shell was studied in solution in the absence and presence of water. A multiple-molecule template was found to drive the formation of 5.(DMSO)x.G(7-x) (G = DMA, DMF; x = 5-7). Higher selectivity was found for species containing greater numbers of DMSO molecules.     

Structural control of nanocrystal superlattices using organic guest molecules

We report a host-guest chemistry approach to controlling the structures of nanocrystal superlattices through a molecular inclusion process. Upon addition of an appropriate amount of guest molecules such as squalane, polyisoprene, and 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl into a nanocrystal suspension, the resulting nanocrystal superlattices adopted non-close-packed structures (e.g., from face-centered cubic to body-centered cubic) and changed their morphologies to form superparticles. Our mechanistic studies revealed that these guest molecules can strongly tailor the kinetic process in superlattice formation, resulting in the formation of non-close-packed nanocrystal superlattices. The insights gained in this study are not only important for making nanocrystal superlattices with desirable architectures but also open a new way of synthesizing novel organic/inorganic composite materials.     

Selective self-organization of guest molecules in self-assembled molecular boxes

This article describes the synthesis and binding properties of highly selective noncovalent molecular receptors 1(3).(DEB)6 and 3(3).(DEB)6 for different hydroxyl functionalized anthraquinones 2. These receptors are formed by the self-assembly of three calix[4]arene dimelamine derivative molecules (1 or 3) and six diethylbarbiturate (DEB) molecules to give 1(3).(DEB)6 or 3(3).(DEB)6. Encapsulation of 2 occurs in a highly organized manner; that is, a noncovalent hydrogen-bonded trimer of 2 is formed within the hydrogen-bonded receptors 1(3).(DEB)6 and 3(3).(DEB)6. Both receptors 1(3).(DEB)6 and 3(3).(DEB)6 change conformation from staggered to eclipsed upon complexation to afford a better fit for the 2(3) trimer. The receptor selectivity toward different anthraquinone derivatives 2 has been studied using 1H NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, UV spectroscopy, and isothermal microcalorimetry (ITC). The pi-pi stacking between the electron-deficient center ring of the anthraquinone derivatives 2a-c and 2e-g and the relatively electron-poor melamine units of the receptor is the driving force for the encapsulation of the guest molecules. The selectivity of the hydrogen-bonded host for the anthraquinone derivatives is the result of steric interactions between the guest molecules and the calix[4]arene aromatic rings of the host.     

Enhanced mechanical strength of zeolites by adsorption of guest molecules

We report a molecular simulation study of the mechanical properties of microporous zeolites filled with guest molecules. We show that the adsorption of molecules in the micropores of the material increases its bulk modulus. These results provide a microscopic picture of the deactivation of pressure-induced amorphization by incorporation of molecules.     

Two new coordination host frameworks for the inclusion of 4-amino-benzophenone guest molecules

The synthesis and structural characterization of novel organometallic coordination polymers are reported. The reaction of Cd(NO₃)₂ and 4,4′-bipy in CH₃OH/H₂O gave a 2D coordination network formulated as {[Cd(4,4′-bpy)₂·(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂·4H₂O}¹⁰, which was used to capture an organic guest species (4-amino-benezopheone, C₁₃H₁₁NO (3)) to obtain {[Cd(4,4′-bpy)₂(NO₃)(H₂O)]·NO₃·(C₁₃H₁₁NO)₂} (1). Using L (L=4,4′-trimethylenedipyridine) instead of 4,4′-bipy, {[Cd(L)₂(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O·2NO₃·C₁₃H₁₁NO} (2) was synthesized, which has an interesting configuration.     

Thermal expansivity of tetrahydrofuran clathrate hydrate with diatomic guest molecules

The guest dynamics and thermal behavior occurring in the cages of clathrate hydrates appear to be too complex to be clearly understood through various structural and spectroscopic approaches, even for the well-known structures of sI, sII, and sH. Neutron diffraction studies have recently been carried out to clarify the special role of guests in expanding the host water lattices and have contributed to revealing the influence factors on thermal expansivity. Through this letter we attempt to address three noteworthy features occurring in guest inclusion: (1) the effect of guest dimension on host water lattice expansion; (2) the effect of thermal history on host water lattice expansion; and (3) the effect of coherent/incoherent scattering cross sections on guest thermal patterns. The diatomic guests of H 2, D 2, N 2, and O 2 have been selected for study, and their size and mass dependence on the degree of lattice expansion have been examined, and four sII clathrate hydrates with tetrahydrofuran (THF) have been synthesized in order to determine their neutron powder diffraction patterns. After thermal cycling, the THF + H 2 clathrate hydrate is observed to exhibit an irreversible plastic deformation-like pattern, implying that the expanded lattices fail to recover the original state by contraction. The host-water cage dimension after degassing the guest molecules remains as it was expanded, and thus host-guest as well as guest-guest interactions will be altered if guest uptake reoccurs.     

水溶性杯芳烃对染料客体分子的包结配位作用

研究了水溶性的杯[n]芳烃磺酸盐(n=4,6,8)及杯[6]芳烃磺酸盐的烷基化衍生物在25.0℃对几种染料客体分子的包结配位作用,发现杯[n]芳烃磺酸盐均使客体的荧光强度降低,而在其下缘的烷基化衍生物却使客体的荧光强度增强,从光物理行为对这些结果进行了解释。由荧光光谱分光光度滴定技术确定了25.0℃时所形成配合物的稳定常数,讨论了其分子识别性质。