Crystal Engineering of Supramolecular 1,4-Benzene Bisamides by Side-Chain Modification – Towards Tuneable Anisotropic Morphologies and Surfaces

Benzene bisamides are promising building blocks for supramolecular nano-objects. Their functionality depends on morphology and surface properties. However, a direct link between surface properties and molecular structure itself is missing for this material class. Here, we investigate this interplay for two series of 1,4-benzene bisamides with symmetric and asymmetric peripheral substitution. We elucidated the crystal structures, determined the nano-object morphologies and derived the wetting behaviour of the preferentially exposed surfaces. The crystal structures were solved by combining single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, solid-state NMR spectroscopy and computational modelling. Bulky side groups, here t-butyl groups, serve as a structure-directing motif into a packing pattern, which favours the formation of thin platelets. The use of slim peripheral groups on both sides, in our case linear perfluorinated, alkyl chains, self-assemble the benzene bisamides into a second packing pattern which leads to ribbon-like nano-objects. For both packing types, the preferentially exposed surfaces consist of the ends of the peripheral groups. Asymmetric substitution with bulky and slim groups leads to an ordered alternating arrangement of the groups exposed to the surface. This allows the hydrophobicity of the surfaces to be gradually altered. We thus identified two leitmotifs for molecular packings of benzene bisamides providing the missing link between the molecular structure, the anisotropic morphologies and adjustable surface properties of the supramolecular nano-objects.     

Elucidating dynamic behavior of synthetic supramolecular polymers in water by hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry

A comprehensive understanding of the structure, self-assembly mechanism, and dynamics of one-dimensional supramolecular polymers in water is essential for their application as biomaterials. Although a plethora of techniques are available to study the first two properties, there is a paucity in possibilities to study dynamic exchange of monomers between supramolecular polymers in solution. We recently introduced hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) to characterize the dynamic nature of synthetic supramolecular polymers with only a minimal perturbation of the chemical structure. To further expand the application of this powerful technique some essential experimental aspects have been reaffirmed and the technique has been applied to a diverse library of assemblies. HDX-MS is widely applicable if there are exchangeable hydrogen atoms protected from direct contact with the solvent and if the monomer concentration is sufficiently high to ensure the presence of supramolecular polymers during dilution. In addition, we demonstrate that the kinetic behavior as probed by HDX-MS is influenced by the internal order within the supramolecular polymers and by the self-assembly mechanism.     

Solid-phase Pd-catalysed cross-coupling methods for the construction of π-conjugated peptide nanomaterials

We describe the development of two procedures for the synthesis of peptides that are embedded with a variety of π-conjugated semi-conducting oligomers. These procedures utilise solid-phase variants of classical palladium-catalysed cross-couplings commonly used to prepare π-conjugated oligomers. The resulting peptide–π–electron hybrids are soluble in aqueous media and self-assemble to produce 1D nanostructures, simultaneously forming networks of π-stacked conduits. The procedures have allowed for the inclusion of complex chromophores including mixed aryl units, ethynylene linkers and sexithiophenes where the latter peptide's nanostructures demonstrated substantial conductivity when employed as an active layer in a field-effect transistor.     

Photoresponding ionic complex containing azobenzene chromophore for use in birefringent flm简

A novel photoresponding ionic complex （PANDAZO） was prepared by the ionic self-assembly （1SA） of sodium polyacrylate （PANa） and azobenzene chromophores （NDAZO）. The ionic complex forms an interdigitated lamellar structure with full overlap of the side chains. The optical anisotropy was investigated by using a polarization pulse laser （355 nm）. Furthermore, a high photoinduced birefringence （An = 0.365） was measured by using a continuous 488 nm laser as the pump light.     

Analysis of plant genomic DNAs and the genetic relationship among plants by using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

The study aimed to distinguish genomic DNAs from nine species of plants belonging to six families and analyze their genetic relationship by using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The silver nano-colloid and excitation wavelength of 785 nm used in this study yielded excellent quality of the SERS spectra. Raman signals were remarkably enhanced. Although the spectra for the nine species of plants appeared very similar, there were significant differences according to the analysis of variance analysis. There were three strong characteristic peaks. The peak at 625 cm⁻¹ was due to the vibration overlap of C3′-endo/anti deoxyribose, cytosine, and guanine; the one at 715 cm⁻¹ was due to the scissoring vibrations of C2N1C6 of adenine; and that at 1011 cm⁻¹ was due to the stretching vibration of the CO bond of deoxyribose and vibrations of cytosine. The SERS data were smoothed and standardized and evaluated using second derivative analysis, principal component analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis. A model was established using the data from hierarchical cluster analysis and principal components of the second derivative. The clustering result of this model was highly consistent with the traditional classification of plants; all plant species investigated were correctly clustered into classes according to the cluster distance coefficient among them; the accuracy of clustering was 100%. Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis Rupr.) and green cabbage (Brassica chinensis L.) belonging to Cruciferae, maize (Zea mays L.) and bamboo (Sinocalamus affinis McClure) belonging to Gramineae, and magnolia (Magnolia delavayi Franch.) and champaca (Michelia alba DC.) belonging to Magnoliaceae were clustered into three separate classes, and fern (Nephrolepis auriculata L., Nephrolepidaceae), garlic (Allium sativum L., Amaryllidaceae), and ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L., Ginkgoaceae) were each clustered into separate classes. These findings suggest that the SERS spectra of plant genomic DNAs can be used to classify species and analyze their genetic relationship. It is an effective and perfect supplement to traditional classification and can form the basis for genetic analysis.     

Enzyme-Instructed Assemblies Enable Mitochondria Localization of Histone H2B in Cancer Cells

Presently, little is known of how the inter-organelle crosstalk impacts cancer cells owing to the lack of approaches that can manipulate inter-organelle communication in cancer cells. We found that a negatively charged, enzyme cleavable peptide (MitoFlag) enables the trafficking of histone protein H2B, a nuclear protein, to the mitochondria in cancer cells. MitoFlag interacts with the nuclear location sequence of H2B to block it from entering the nucleus. A protease on the mitochondria cleaves the Flag from the MitoFlag/H2B complex to form assemblies that retain H2B on the mitochondria and facilitate H2B entering the mitochondria. Adding NLS, replacing aspartic acid by glutamic acid residues, or changing the l - to d -aspartic acid residue on MitoFlag abolishes the trafficking of H2B into mitochondria of HeLa cells. As the first example of the enzyme-instructed self-assembly of a synthetic peptide for trafficking endogenous proteins, this work provides insights for understanding and manipulating inter-organelle communication in cells.     

Formation of a Single-Crystal Aluminum-Based MOF Nanowire with Graphene Oxide Nanoscrolls as Structure-Directing Agents

An innovative strategy is proposed to synthesize single-crystal nanowires (NWs) of the Al³⁺ dicarboxylate MIL-69(Al) MOF by using graphene oxide nanoscrolls as structure-directing agents. MIL-69(Al) NWs with an average diameter of 70±20 nm and lengths up to 2 μm were found to preferentially grow along the [001] crystallographic direction. Advanced characterization methods (electron diffraction, TEM, STEM-HAADF, SEM, XPS) and molecular modeling revealed the mechanism of formation of MIL-69(Al) NWs involving size-confinement and templating effects. The formation of MIL-69(Al) seeds and the self-scroll of GO sheets followed by the anisotropic growth of MIL-69(Al) crystals are mediated by specific GO sheets/MOF interactions. This study delivers an unprecedented approach to control the design of 1D MOF nanostructures and superstructures.     

Fabrication of Pascal-triangle Lattice of Proteins by Inducing Ligand Strategy

A protein Pascal triangle has been constructed as new type of supramolecular architecture by using the inducing ligand strategy that we previously developed for protein assemblies. Although mathematical studies on this famous geometry have a long history, no work on such Pascal triangles fabricated from native proteins has been reported so far due to their structural complexity. In this work, by carefully tuning the specific interactions between the native protein building block WGA and the inducing ligand R-SL , a 2D Pascal-triangle lattice with three types of triangular voids has been assembled. Moreover, a 3D crystal structure was obtained based on the 2D Pascal triangles. The distinctive carbohydrate binding sites of WGA and the intralayer as well as interlayer dimerization of RhB was the key to facilitate nanofabrication in solution. This strategy may be applied to prepare and explore various sophisticated assemblies based on native proteins.     

DNA Nanoribbon-Templated Self-Assembly of Ultrasmall Fluorescent Copper Nanoclusters with Enhanced Luminescence

Fluorescent copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) have been widely used in chemical sensors, biological imaging, and light-emitting devices. However, individual fluorescent CuNCs have limitations in their capabilities arising from poor photostability and weak emission intensities. As one kind of aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen), the formation of aggregates with high compactness and good order can efficiently improve the emission intensity, stability, and tunability of CuNCs. Here, DNA nanoribbons, containing multiple specific binding sites, serve as a template for in situ synthesis and assembly of ultrasmall CuNCs (0.6 nm). These CuNC self-assemblies exhibit enhanced luminescence and excellent fluorescence stability because of tight and ordered arrangement through DNA nanoribbons templating. Furthermore, the stable and bright CuNC assemblies are demonstrated in the high-sensitivity detection and intracellular fluorescence imaging of biothiols.     

Monochromophore-Based Phosphorescence and Fluorescence from Pure Organic Assemblies for Ratiometric Hypoxia Detection

Hypoxia is a parameter related to many diseases. Ratiometric hypoxia probes often rely on a combination of an O₂-insensitive fluorophore and an O₂-sensitive phosphor in a polymer matrix, which require high cost and multi-step synthesis of transition metal complexes. The two-chromophore hypoxia probes encounter unfavorable energy transfer processes and different stabilities of the chromophores. Reported herein is a pure organic ratiometric hypoxia nanoprobe, assembled by a monochromophore, naphthalimide ureidopyrimidinone (BrNpA-UPy), bridged by a bis-UPy-functionalized benzyl skeleton. The joint factors of quadruple hydrogen bonding, the rigid backbone of UPy, and bromine substitution of the naphthalimide derivative facilitate bright phosphorescence (Φ_P=7.7 %, τ_P=3.2 ms) and fluorescence of the resultant nanoparticles (SNPs) at room temperature, which enable accurate, ratiometric, sensitive oxygen detection (K_sv=189.6 kPa⁻¹) in aqueous solution as well as in living HeLa cells.