A fluorescent guest used to determinate the effective content of CB[8] and to further detect methyl viologen

A fluorescent pyrene derivate,N-allyl-1-pyrenemethylammonium hydrochloride(APA+),was reported to form a stable host–guest complex with cucurbit[8]uril(CB[8]),and this property can be utilized to determinate the purity of CB[8]via emission titration.Moreover,the 1:1 complex of APA+and CB[8]can further bind methyl viologen(MV2+),which is the main ingredient of a widely used herbicide,providing a good method to detect MV2+,especially at low concentrations.     

A cucurbit[8]uril recognized rigid supramolecular polymer with photo-stimulated responsiveness

A rigid supramolecular polymer was constructed in aqueous solution via cucurbit[8]uril(CB[8]) host recognition with a rigid monomer containing an azobenzene unit and two 4,4'-bipyridin-1-ium(BP)moieties in the two ends, which also exhibited photo-responsiveness owing to the photoinduced trans–cis isomerization of azobenzene group.     

Cucurbit[10]uril-based chemistry

With the biggest cavity in the cucurbit[n]urils (CB[n]s) family, CB[10] has shown its unique molecular recognition properties. This review gives a brief summary of the research progresses in the CB[10]-based chemistry, involving its purification and applications in fields such as molecular recognition and molecular assembly.     

A supramolecular bottlebrush polymer assembled on the basis of cucurbit[8]uril-encapsulation-enhanced donor-acceptor interaction

A supramolecular bottlebrush polymer has been constructed in water through the self-assembly of a rigid electron-deficient building block and an electron-rich monomer which bears two tetraethylene glycol chains, driven by CB[8]-encapsulation-enhanced donor-acceptor interaction. The as-formed supramolecular bottlebrush polymer has been characterized by ¹H NMR titration experiment, UV-vis spectroscopy, DLS and 2D ¹H NMR DOSY.     

pH-Responsive supramolecular DOX-dimer based on cucurbit[8]uril for selective drug release

A supramolecular dimer of doxorubicin (DOX) was constructed via ternary host-guest interactions between cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) and tryptophan modified DOX (DOX-Trp, connected with an acid-labile bond) and we demonstrate for the first time that a supramolecular dimer of DOX can be formed upon homo-dimerization by CB[8], which may act as a stimuli pH-responsive, supramolecular DOX dimer prodrug system. This supramolecular DOX dimer transported DOX efficiently and selectively to cancer cells, thereby exhibiting significantly minimized cytotoxicity against noncancerous cells while maintaining effective cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Under this strategy, many other anticancer drugs could be chemically modified and loaded as a dimeric “ammunition” into CB[8] as supramolecular dimer prodrug systems (or a “jet fighter”) for improved cancer therapy.     

Tuning thermal gelling behavior of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide based copolymer through introducing cucurbit[8]uril ternary complex on side-chain

Thermo-gelation polymers have attracted increasing attention over decades. However, rare facile tuning method of sol-gel transition temperature restricted the wider application. Preceding study indicated that supramolecular interactions demonstrated a powerful means to control the structure and property of polymeric materials. Here we designed an N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) based thermo-sensitive copolymer with naphthyl (Np) on its side chain. Positive-charged side-chain ternary complex was formed with cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) and methylviologen (MV²⁺) via CB[8]-enhanced intermolecular charge-transfer (CT) interaction. Introducing the ternary complex CB[8]/MV²⁺/Np on side-chain altered microstructure of macromolecular chains and led to a strong tendency for thermo gelation. Altering content of CB[8] and MV²⁺ changed content of the positive-charged side-chain ternary complex and varied gelation temperature. Therefore, introducing supramolecular interaction endowed the hydrogel with tunable gelation property.     

Sensitive and low-background electrochemical assay of corin activity via supramolecular recognition and rolling circle amplification

Corin is an important member of type II transmembrane serine proteases that is involved in a variety of cardiovascular and pregnancy-related diseases. Herein, a sensitive and low-background electrochemical method is proposed to assay the activity of corin. In principle, a peptide comprising both the substrate motif of corin and binding site of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) is first designed and immobilized on the electrode surface. Thereafter, via CB[8]-mediated supramolecular recognition, a DNA-primer is recruited, subsequently triggering the rolling circle amplification (RCA) reaction. In this way, a succeeding propagation of DNA strands is achieved on the electrode surface, which would produce remarkable repelling effect against the electrochemical species [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4−, and thereby yield a highly minimized background signal. However, in the presence of activated corin, the peptide is specifically recognized and cleaved, breaching the recruitment of DNA primer as well as the RCA reaction, which decreases the repulsion to [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4−, leading to a remarkable electrochemical response. As a result, the proposed assay method can sensitively determine the activity of corin with a detection limit of 0.92 pM, and can further be directly used in maternal plasma samples. Therefore, this method may provide a promising tool for pathological research and clinical diagnosis of corin-related diseases.     

Selective detection of Zn2+ and Cd2+ ions in water using a host-guest complex between chromone and Q[7]

In this paper, the host-guest interaction of cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) and chromone (CMO) has been developed as a fluorescent probe for the highly selective detection of Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ in water based on a chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) mechanism. There was a good linear relationship between the fluorescence intensity of the CMO@Q[7] probe and the concentration of Zn²⁺ or Cd²⁺ in the range of 0–3.0 × 10^–5 mol/L and the detection limit for Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ was found to be 2.03 × 10^–6 mol/L and 1.89 × 10^–6 mol/L, respectively. The X-ray crystal structure indicated that different coordination fashions were triggered by Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ in the CMO@Q[7] complexes, respectively. However, both metal ions coordinated with the carbonyl oxygen of CMO, which was encapsulated in the cavity of Q[7], thus leading to the enhancement of recognition fluorescence emission of CMO.     

Reviving chloroquine for anti-SARS-CoV-2 treatment with cucurbit[7]uril-based supramolecular formulation

The wide-spreading SARS-CoV-2 virus has put the world into boiling water for more than a year, however pharmacological therapies to act effectively against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain elusive. Chloroquine (CQ), an antimalarial drug, was found to exhibit promising antiviral activity in vitro and in vivo at a high dosage, thus CQ was approved by the FDA for the emergency use authorization (EUA) in the fight against COVID-19 in the US, but later was revoked the EUA status due to the severe clinical toxicity. Herein, we show that supramolecular formulation of CQ by a macrocyclic host, curcurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), reduced its non-specific toxicity and improved its antiviral activity against coronavirus, working in synergy with CB[7]. CB[7] was found to form 1:1 host-guest complexes with CQ, with a binding constant of ∼10⁴ L/mol. The CQ-CB[7] formulation decreased the cytotoxicity of CQ against Vero E6 and L-02 cell lines. In particular, the cytotoxicity of CQ (60 μmol/L) against both Vero E6 cell line and L-02 cell lines was completely inhibited in the presence of 300 μmol/L and 600 μmol/L CB[7], respectively. Furthermore, the CB[7] alone showed astonishing antiviral activity in SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero E6 cells and mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (MHV-A59) infected N2A cells, and synergistically improved the antiviral activity of CQ-CB[7], suggesting that CB[7]-based CQ formulation has a great potential as a safe and effective antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronavirus.     

紫精与八元瓜环的超分子组装及光切割质粒DNA

利用紫精可以活化水中溶解氧的特性, 设计合成了苯-紫精化合物(BEV). 利用紫外吸收、电化学及核磁等方法研究了BEV与八元瓜环CB[8] 之间的相互作用. 实验结果表明, 2种化合物可以进行主客体超分子自组装形成1∶ 1的二元包合物BEV-CB[8]. 同时, 分别考察了化合物BEV和BEV-CB[8]与小牛胸腺DNA的相互作用, 并采用琼脂糖凝胶电泳研究了氙灯光照下化合物对pBR322 DNA的切割能力. 结果表明, CB[8]的引入改变了化合物BEV与DNA的作用方式, 使嵌入作用和静电作用增强. 光照结果说明只有超分子BEV-CB[8]在光照下可以完全切割质粒DNA, 即CB[8]的存在明显提高了BEV对质粒DNA的切割效率.     

A novel supramolecular graft copolymer via cucurbit[8]uril-based complexation and its self-assembly

A novel supramolecular graft copolymer（SGP） composed of viologen-containing copolymer（P（DMA-co-diEV）） as the main chain and Np ended PNIPAM（Np-PN1PAm） as the grafts is prepared（DMA:N,N- dimethylacryamide,diEV:ethylviologen dimer,Np:naphthalene,PNIPAM:poly（N-isopropylacrylamide））. The grafting is based on the triple complexation among a host of cucurbit[8]uril（CB[8]）and two guests of diEV and Np,which is characterized by UV-vis spectra and ITC.Temperature sensitive property of PNIPAm moiety allows SGP to self-assemble into non-covalently connected micelle（NCCM） at high temperature. The micelles are sensitive to reducing agents,for example Na₂S₂O₃,which breaks the current inclusion complex pair and induces aggregation.     

pH-Switched fluorescent pseudorotaxane assembly of cucurbit[7]uril with bispyridinium ethylene derivatives

¹H NMR spectra and fluorescence analysis revealed that the molecular shuttle and pseudorotaxane assembly of Q[7] with guest G²⁺ can be significantly switched via protonation and deprotonation of the terminal carboxylates of the guest.     

Supramolecular nano drug delivery systems mediated via host-guest chemistry of cucurbit[n]uril (n = 6 and 7)

As a novel family of macrocyclic molecules,cucurbit[n]urils(CB[n]s) have emerged as promising building blocks of supramolecular nano drug delivery systems(SNDDS) in recent years.Direct encapsulation of amphiphilic guests by CB[6] and CB[7] can modulate their amphiphilicity,resulting in formation of supramolecular amphiphiles that self-assemble into supramolecular nanoparticles for drug delivery.Additionally,CB[n]'s host-guest chemistry on the surface of mesoporous nanoparticles makes CB[n] an ideal blocking agent to control drug release from delivery vehicles.These SNDDS possess intrinsic stimuli responsiveness towards external guest or host,which can further incorporate re s ponsiveness to a variety of other stimuli including pH,thermal,redox,photo and enzyme,to realize multiple stimuli-responsive drug release.Moreover,the recent breakthrough in direct functionalization of CB[n]s has provided a feasible method for preparing superior CB[6] and CB[7] derivatives that can be employed to build multifunctional SNDDS with unoccupied macrocycles located on surface,which could be decorated with various functional "tags" through host-guest chemistry.In this review,we summarized the recent progress of CB[6] and CB[7] based SNDDS through formation of supramolecular amphiphiles,supramolecular nanovalves as well as supramolecularly tailorable surface,which we hope to further promote the development of CB[n]s family as building blocks for advanced SNDDS.     

Cucurbit[6]uril-based supramolecular frameworks assembled via the outer surface interaction of cucurbit[n]urils

Curcurbit[n]uril(Q[n])-based supramolecular frameworks(QSFs) constructed from the outer surface interaction of Q[n]s(OSIQ) have the characteristic of simplicity,diversity and modulability.Their simplicity is reflected in their simple composition and preparation methods used for QSFs.The diversity of supramolecular organic frameworks(SOFs) is reflected in the synthesis methods and structural characteristics of the as-obtained QSFs,as well as the variety of structural directing agents and basic building blocks used to prepare QSFs.The modulability is reflected by the controllable channel size in the QSFs,which can be adjusted using different sizes of Q[n]s.In this work,the first re ported cucurbituril Q[6]was selected as the basic building block and three Q[6]-based su p ramolecular frameworks were obtained from aqueous HCl solutions in the presence of [CdCl₄]^2-respectively.The OSIQs are the main driving forces for the formation of these frameworks.This study shows the diversity of the QSFs.     

超分子作用对2-(2-氨基苯基)苯并噻唑分子内质子转移的影响

采用稳态荧光、瞬态荧光及量子化学计算等手段对2-(2-氨基苯基)苯并噻唑(APBT)在不同溶剂中的质子转移进行了研究。结果表明,溶剂的极性及质子化对APBT的质子转移有较大的影响,通过对超分子作用的考察,发现七元瓜环(CB[7])的加入对APBT质子转移起到了一定的抑制作用, APBT与CB[7]能形成化学计量比为1:1的主客体包合物,同时测定了包合物的结合常数等热力学参数。此外,核磁共振氢谱和包合物的理论计算表明APBT分子进入了CB[7]的疏水空腔。     

Cucurbit[7]uril promoting PdCl2-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of benzyl halides and arylboronic acids in aqueous media

The research provides a novel approach for producing diarylmethane derivatives using CB[7]–NaCl–PdCl₂ catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of benzyl chloride derivatives and arylboronic acids in ethanol aqueous solution.     

Fluorescence enhancement and cytotoxicity reduction of bis-viologen biphenyl by complexation of cucurbit[7]uril

The effect of cucurbit[7]uril(CB[7]) on fluorescence properties and biocompatibility of the bis-viologen biphenyl molecule(BPV2~(2+)) was investigated by using ~1 H NMR spectroscopy,fluorescence emission titration,and in vitro cytotoxicity experiments.CB[7] can be combined with BPV2~(2+) in a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 and 2:1.After the formation of host-guest complex,the fluorescence emission intensity of BPV2~(2+) increased significantly,and the emission spectrum blue shifted.Meanwhile,the host-guest complexes showed better biocompatibility than BPV2~(2+) in cell cytotoxicity studies.Results of this paper lay a foundation for the development of host-guest type of fluo rescent probes,biological imaging and so forth.     

Cucurbit[n]uril-calix[n]arene-based supramolecular frameworks assembled using the outer surface interactions of cucurbit[n]urils

Based on the crystal structures of two cucurbit[6]uril/calix[n]arene-based supramolecular frameworks reported by Long and co-workers,we further investigated the interactions of cucurbit[6]uril with 4-sulfocalix[4]arene and 4-sulfocalix[6]arene using ¹H NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry(ITC),respectively.Moreover,solid fluorescent materials were prepared via the adsorption of fluorescent dyes by these porous supramolecular frameworks,which exhibit a selective response to certain volatile organic compounds.     

Complexation of bipyridinium guests in the cavity of Acyclic Cucurbit[n]uril receptor

A series of bipyridinium guests have been synthesised, and their inclusion complexes with acyclic CB[n]-type receptor have been investigated by NMR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Novel [3]pseudorotaxane was formed by C-H ^… O, π-π and ion–dipole interactions. The impact of their complexation on the equilibrium between monomer and dimer of bipyridinium cation radicals has also been studied by UV-Vis-NIR and EPR spectroscopy. Upon reduction, the bipyridinium units linked by flexible pentylene chain preferred the formation of the dimer in the presence of acyclic CB[n]-type receptor, whereas those connected by rigid xylene bridge were suppressed as monomeric form due to the steric effect.     

葫芦脲[7]与核黄素包结物的可能结构和光谱性质

利用密度泛函理论对葫芦脲[7]和核黄素包结物的可能结构进行了理论计算.从5种可能结构分析主客体在包结物中的作用得出:核黄素作为客体分子与主体葫芦脲[7]分子通过不同官能团作用可形成稳定性不同的包结物,其中以核糖醇的羟基插入到葫芦脲[7]分子的腔体与其端羰基氧原子形成较多的氢键最稳定.在理论上证明了此包结反应为一放热反应的实验事实,并进一步说明了包结物分子的相对稳定性受主客体分子的几何畸变能和主客体之间作用能的影响,说明了成键能和稳定性之间的区别.在此基础上利用时间相关的密度泛函理论进行了不同构型包结物的激发态计算并对光谱性质进行了理论预测.比较了包结物中核黄素分子的跃迁轨道的组成变化,分析得出:葫芦脲[7]的包结作用改变了核黄素分子的电子跃迁性质,使其吸收光谱发生红移.并预测出其荧光猝灭的微观机理,此理论计算结果很好地解释了相应的实验现象.