Molecular simulation study on the self-assembly behaviors of zwitterionic heterogemini surfactant in aqueous solution

The self-assembly behaviors of a series of zwitterionic heterogemini surfactants C_mH_2m+1-PO^4–(CH₂)₂-N⁺(CH₃)₂-C_nH_2n+1, abbreviated as C_m-P-N-C_n (m, n?=?9, 9; 9, 12; 9, 15; 9, 18; 12, 12; 12, 15; 12, 18; 15, 15; 15, 18; 18, 18), have been investigated in aqueous solution by the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) method. Morphologies such as sphere (S), rod (R), planar grid (PG), lamella (L), honeycomb (H), one-, two-, and three-dimensional tunnels (1DT, 2DT, and 3DT) have been observed showing more diversities than those of the corresponding symmetric gemini surfactants C_m-N-N-C_m (m?=?9, 12, 15, 18). With the increase of surfactant concentration in the aqueous solution, a distinct transition path ‘‘S—R—PG—3DT—L—2DT—1DT’’ is proved to be common for all the C_m-P-N-C_n systems. Besides, the hydrophobic chain length has a significant influence on the self-assembly behaviors in the case of m?≠?n. Radial distribution function is an effective method to quantitatively evaluate the interaction and relationship between each functional group in the surfactant molecule and water. Results can provide a new insight into the self-assembly behaviors of zwitterionic heterogemini surfactants and the corresponding applications.     

Achieving Strong Positive Cooperativity through Activating Weak Non‐Covalent Interactions

Positive cooperativity achieved through activating weak non‐covalent interactions is common in biological assemblies but is rarely observed in synthetic complexes. Two new molecular tubes have been synthesized and the syn isomer binds DABCO‐based organic cations with high orientational selectivity. Surprisingly, the ternary complex with two hosts and one guest shows a high cooperativity factor (α=580), which is the highest reported for synthetic systems without involving ion‐pairing interactions. The X‐ray single‐crystal structure revealed that the strong positive cooperativity likely originates from eight C?H???O hydrogen bonds between the two head‐to‐head‐arranged syn tube molecules. These relatively weak hydrogen bonds were not observed in the free hosts and only emerged in the complex. Furthermore, this complex was used as a basic motif to construct a robust [2+2] cyclic assembly, thus demonstrating its potential in molecular self‐assembly.     

手性杯芳烃及其超分子手性

杯芳烃是由苯酚单元通过亚甲基连接而成的空腔型分子,具有衍生位点多,构象丰富等特点,被称为第三代主体分子。在分子层次,依手性因素的结构特点不同,可将手性杯芳烃分为具有手性亚单元的杯芳烃、固有手性杯芳烃和桥手性杯芳烃。在超分子层次,杯芳烃自身或杯芳烃与其他分子或离子在溶液中、晶态中或二维表面可通过非共价键力形成多种拓扑结构的纳米手性聚集体。研究手性杯芳烃和基于杯芳烃的超分子手性组装体的合成、结构和性能,不仅在理解手性起源、手性结构等方面具有理论意义,而且有望获得以分子识别为基础的手性传感器、手性催化剂、手性分离材料、手性载体和手性纳米材料。本文综述近十年来有代表性的分子手性杯芳烃和以杯芳烃为组分的超分子手性聚集体的设计、合成、结构和功能。着重展示杯芳烃骨架在形成新颖分子手性和超分子手性上的优势,以及杯芳烃单元在实现特定功能如手性识别时发挥的作用。相信随着杯芳烃合成技术和杯芳烃超分子设计的发展,必将进一步发挥杯芳烃的结构优势,涌现出更多性能优异的手性杯芳烃功能分子和超分子手性杯芳烃功能材料。     

Taking Advantage of Hydrophobic Fluorine Interactions for Self‐Assembled Quantum Dots as a Delivery Platform for Enzymes

Self‐assembly of nanoparticles provides unique opportunities as nanoplatforms for controlled delivery. By exploiting the important role of noncovalent hydrophobic interactions in the engineering of stable assemblies, nanoassemblies were formed by the self‐assembly of fluorinated quantum dots in aqueous medium through fluorine–fluorine interactions. These nanoassemblies encapsulated different enzymes (laccase and α‐galactosidase) with encapsulation efficiencies of ≥74 %. Importantly, the encapsulated enzymes maintained their catalytic activity, following Michaelis–Menten kinetics. Under an acidic environment the nanoassemblies were slowly disassembled, thus allowing the release of encapsulated enzymes. The effective release of the assayed enzymes demonstrated the feasibility of this nanoplatform to be used in pH‐mediated enzyme delivery. In addition, the as‐synthesized nanoassemblies, having a diameter of about 50 nm, presented high colloidal stability and fluorescence emission, which make them a promising multifunctional nanoplatform.     

Atomically Precise Nanocluster Assemblies Encapsulating Plasmonic Gold Nanorods

The self‐assembled structures of atomically precise, ligand‐protected noble metal nanoclusters leading to encapsulation of plasmonic gold nanorods (GNRs) is presented. Unlike highly sophisticated DNA nanotechnology, this strategically simple hydrogen bonding‐directed self‐assembly of nanoclusters leads to octahedral nanocrystals encapsulating GNRs. Specifically, the p‐mercaptobenzoic acid (pMBA)‐protected atomically precise silver nanocluster, Na₄[Ag₄₄(pMBA)₃₀], and pMBA‐functionalized GNRs were used. High‐resolution transmission and scanning transmission electron tomographic reconstructions suggest that the geometry of the GNR surface is responsible for directing the assembly of silver nanoclusters via H‐bonding, leading to octahedral symmetry. The use of water‐dispersible gold nanoclusters, Au_≈250(pMBA)_n and Au₁₀₂(pMBA)₄₄, also formed layered shells encapsulating GNRs. Such cluster assemblies on colloidal particles are a new category of precision hybrids with diverse possibilities.     

An Assembled Nanocomplex for Improving both Therapeutic Efficiency and Treatment Depth in Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) shows unique selectivity and irreversible destruction toward treated tissues or cells, but still has several problems in clinical practice. One is limited therapeutic efficiency, which is attributed to hypoxia in tumor sites. Another is the limited treatment depth because traditional photosensitizes are excited by short wavelength light (<700 nm). An assembled nano‐complex system composed of oxygen donor, two‐photon absorption (TPA) species, and photosensitizer (PS) was synthesized to address both problems. The photosensitizer is excited indirectly by two‐photon laser through intraparticle FRET mechanism for improving treatment depth. The oxygen donor, hemoglobin, can supply extra oxygen into tumor location through targeting effect for enhanced PDT efficiency. The mechanism and PDT effect were verified through both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The simple system is promising to promote two‐photon PDT for clinical applications.     

Propagation of Enzyme‐Induced Surface Events inside Polymer Nanoassemblies for a Fast and Tunable Response

We report a new molecular design strategy that allows for the propagation of surface enzymatic events inside a supramolecular assembly for accelerated molecular release. The approach addresses a key shortcoming encountered with many of the currently available enzyme‐induced disassembly strategies, which rely on the unimer–aggregate equilibria of amphiphilic assemblies. The enzymatic response of the host to predictably tune the kinetics of guest‐molecule release can be programmed by controlling substrate accessibility through electrostatic complexation with a complementary polymer. Accelerated guest release in response to the enzyme is shown to be accomplished by a cooperative mechanism of enzyme‐triggered supramolecular host disassembly and host reorganization.     

Multipronged Biomimetic Approach To Create Optically Tunable Nanoparticles

Current biomimetics for medical applications use a single biomimetic approach to imitate natural structures, which can be insufficient for reconstructing structurally complex natural systems. Multipronged efforts may resolve these complexities. To achieve interesting nanostructure‐driven optical properties, a dual‐biomimetic system contained within a single nanoagent was engineered to recapitulate chlorosomes, efficient light‐harvesting organelles that have unique dye assemblies and tunable photonic properties. A series of chlorin dyes was synthesized, and these hydrophobic assemblies were stabilized inside a high‐density lipoprotein, a second biomimetic that enabled in vivo utility. This system resulted in tunable tumor imaging of intact (photoacoustic) and disrupted (activatable fluorescence) nanostructures. The successful demonstration of this multipronged biomimetic approach opens the door for reconstruction of complex natural systems for biomedical applications.     

Structure‐Driven Selection of Adaptive Transmembrane Na+ Carriers or K+ Channels

Self‐assembled alkyl‐ureido‐benzo‐15‐crown‐5‐ethers are selective ionophores for K⁺ cations, which are preferred to Na⁺ cations. The transport mechanism is determined by the optimal coordination rather than classical dimensional compatibility between the crown ether hole and the cation diameter. Herein, we demonstrate that systematic changes of the structure lead to unexpected modifications in the cation‐transport activity and suffice to produce adaptive selection. We show that the main contribution to performance arises from optimal constraints on the conformational freedom, which are determined by the binding macrocycles, the nature of the hydrogen‐bonding groups, and the hydrophobic tails. Simple changes to the flexible 15‐crown‐5‐ether lead to selective carriers for Na⁺. Hydrophobic stabilization of the channels through mutual interactions between lipids and variable hydrophobic tails appears to be an important cause of increased activity. Oppositely, restricted translocation is achieved when constrained hydrogen‐bonded macrocyclic relays are less dynamic in a pore superstructure.     

Peripheral Templation‐Modulated Interconversion between an A4L6 Tetrahedral Anion Cage and A2L3 Triple Helicate with Guest Capture/Release

An anion‐coordination‐based A₄L₆ (“A” denotes anion and “L” is ligand) tetrahedral cage was constructed by a C₂‐symmetric bis‐bis(urea) ligand and phosphate anion, which showed reversible interconversion with the A₂L₃ triple helicate as a response to the template, concentration, or solvent. Notably, an unusual “peripheral” templation was found to be critical to stabilize the tetrahedral structure. This peripheral effect was utilized to assemble an “empty” A₄L₆ cage that allows the multi‐stimuli‐controlled capture/release of biologically important species such as choline and acetylcholine.