Halogen bonding influences perylene-core twists in non-core substituted perylene tetraesters

CO⋯X halogen bonding of perylene tetraesters causes perylene-core torsion which affects their spectral properties.

Quantifying highly efficient incoherent energy transfer in perylene-based multichromophore arrays

Multichromophore perylene arrays were designed and synthesized to have extremely efficient resonance energy transfer, as confirmed by ultrafast spectroscopy.

Redox- and pH-Responsive Orthogonal Supramolecular Self-Assembly: An Ensemble Displaying Molecular Switching Characteristics

Two heteroditopic monomers, namely a thiopropyl-functionalized tetrathiafulvalene-annulated calix[4]pyrrole (SPr-TTF-C[4]P 1) and phenyl C61 butyric acid (PCBA 2), have been used to assemble a chemically and electrochemically responsive supramolecular ensemble. Addition of an organic base initiates self-assembly of the monomers via a molecular switching event. This results in the formation of materials that may be disaggregated via the addition of an organic acid or electrolysis.

Polymersomes prepared from thermoresponsive fluorescent protein-polymer bioconjugates: capture of and report on drug and protein payloads

Polymersomes provide a good platform for targeted drug delivery and the creation of complex (bio)catalytically active systems for research in synthetic biology. To realize these applications requires both spatial control over the encapsulation components in these polymersomes and a means to report where the components are in the polymersomes. To address these twin challenges, we synthesized the protein-polymer bioconjugate PNIPAM-b-amilFP497 composed of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and a green-fluorescent protein variant (amilFP497). Above 37 °C, this bioconjugate forms polymersomes that can (co-)encapsulate the fluorescent drug doxorubicin and the fluorescent light-harvesting protein phycoerythrin 545 (PE545). Using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and Förster resonance energy transfer (FLIM-FRET), we can distinguish the co-encapsulated PE545 protein inside the polymersome membrane while doxorubicin is found both in the polymersome core and membrane.

Supramolecular host–guest complexation of Lash's calix[4]azulene with tetraalkylammonium halides and tetrafluoroborate salts: binding and DFT computational studies

Calix[4]azulene1is shown to be an effective molecular receptor for tetraalkylammonium halide and BF₄⁻salts.

Biocompatible small peptide super-hydrogelators bearing carbazole functionalities

Two novel short peptides bearing a novel carbazole capping group form gels at concentrations as low as 0.03% w/v and are biocompatible at or above their minimum gel concentrations.

Macromolecular crowding and hydrophobic effects on Fmoc-diphenylalanine hydrogel formation in PEG : water mixtures

Addition of water triggers gelation in (poly)ethylene glycol (PEG) solutions of peptide gelators, with or without drugs added. The gels are formed by a combination of macromolecular crowding and hydrophobic effects as evident by significant secondary structure changes when compared to gel formed from pure water.

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) studies on the structural evolution of pyromellitamide self-assembled gels

The kinetics of aggregation of two pyromellitamide gelators, tetrabutyl- (C4) and tetrahexyl-pyromellitamide (C6), in deuterated cyclohexane has been investigated by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) for up to 6 days. The purpose of this study was to improve our understanding of how self-assembled gels are formed. Short-term (< 3 h) time scales revealed multiple phases with the data for the tetrabutylpyromellitamide C4, indicating one-dimensional stacking and aggregation corresponding to a multifiber braided cluster arrangement that is about 35 Å in diameter. The corresponding tetrahexylpyromellitamide C6 data suggest that the C6 also forms one-dimensional stacks but that these aggregate to a thicker multifiber braided cluster that has a diameter of about 62 Å. Over a longer period of time, the radius, persistence length, and contour length all continue to increase in 6 days after cooling. These data suggest that structural changes in self-assembled gels occur over a period exceeding several days and that fairly subtle changes in the structure (e.g., tail-length) can influence the packing of molecules in self-assembled gels on the single-to-few fiber bundle stage.

Dissolution and degradation of Fmoc-diphenylalanine self-assembled gels results in necrosis at high concentrations in vitro

Herein we report an approach to assess in vitro cellular responses to the dissolution or degradation products from Fmoc-diphenylalanine (Fmoc-FF) self-assembled hydrogels. Three cell lines were used in these studies and two-way ANOVA was used to assess (i) the age of gel dissolution and degradation products and (ii) exposure time on cell fate and state, using viability assays in conjunction with time-lapse fluorescence and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy investigation. The studies show that leaching time but not the exposure time affects the overall cell viability. The cytotoxic effect was only observed once the gel is completely dissolved. Further analysis revealed that the principal mechanism of cell death is necrosis. In addition, the effect of chemotherapeutics (5-fluorouracil and paclitaxel) released from the Fmoc-FF gel (with addition before and after gelation) on colorectal cancer cells were investigated using this methodology, demonstrating enhanced activity of these drugs compared to bulk control. This enhanced activity, however, appears to be a combination of the apoptosis caused by the cancer drugs and necrosis caused by gel dissolution and degradation products. Given that in vivo studies by others on Fmoc-peptides that this material is not harmful to animals, our work highlights that conventional in vitro cellular assays may yield conflicting messages when used for the evaluation of cytotoxicity and drug release from self-assembled gels such as Fmoc-FF and that better in vitro models, (e.g. 3D cell culture systems) need to be developed to evaluate these materials for biomedical applications.

Thermodynamic factors impacting the peptide-driven self-assembly of perylene diimide nanofibers

Synthetic peptides offer enormous potential to encode the assembly of molecular electronic components, provided that the complex range of interactions is distilled into simple design rules. Here, we report a spectroscopic investigation of aggregation in an extensive series of peptide-perylene diiimide conjugates designed to interrogate the effect of structural variations. By fitting different contributions to temperature dependent optical absorption spectra, we quantify both the thermodynamics and the nature of aggregation for peptides by incrementally varying hydrophobicity, charge density, length, as well as asymmetric substitution with a hexyl chain, and stereocenter inversion. We find that coarse effects like hydrophobicity and hexyl substitution have the greatest impact on aggregation thermodynamics, which are separated into enthalpic and entropic contributions. Moreover, significant peptide packing effects are resolved via stereocenter inversion studies, particularly when examining the nature of aggregates formed and the coupling between π electronic orbitals. Our results develop a quantitative framework for establishing structure-function relationships that will underpin the design of self-assembling peptide electronic materials.

Exceptionally strong hydrogels through self-assembly of an indole-capped dipeptide

A dipeptide bearing an indole capping group forms exceptionally strong, hydrogels, with a storage modulus of ∼0.3 MPa. these hydrogels exhibit a minimal fibre-branching, with strong lateral association of fibrils.

Quantum Coherence and its Impact on Biomimetic Light-Harvesting

The survival of all photosynthetic organisms relies on the initial light harvesting step, and thus, after ~3 billion years of evolution energy capture and transfer has become a highly efficient and effective process. Here we examine the latest developments on understanding light harvesting, particularly in systems that exhibit an ultrafast energy transfer mechanism known as quantum coherence. With increasing knowledge of the structural and function parameters that produce quantum coherence in photosynthetic organisms, we can begin to replicate this process through biomimetic systems providing a faster and more efficient approach to harvesting and storing solar power for the worlds energy needs. Importantly, synthetic systems that display signs of quantum coherence have also been created and the first design principles for synthetic systems utilising quantum coherence are beginning to emerge. Recent claims that quantum coherence also plays a key role in ultrafast charge-separation highlights the importance for chemists, biologists, and material scientists to work more closely together to uncover the role of quantum coherence in photosynthesis and solar energy research.

Novel colorimetric anion sensors based on N-acetylglyoxylic amides containing nitrophenyl signalling units

N-acetylglyoxylic amides 4 and 5 bearing pendant 4-nitrophenyl and 2,4-dinitrophenyl groups respectively were synthesized and evaluated as anion sensors. A crystal structure of 4 was obtained by X-ray crystallography. Compounds 4 and 5 behaved as colorimetric sensors for CN(-) and F(-), and exhibited naked eye-detectable color changes upon the addition of these anions. The chromogenic properties of 4 and 5 were assessed by UV-Vis and (1)H NMR spectroscopy.

The anticancer properties of iron core-gold shell nanoparticles in colorectal cancer cells

Previously, iron core–gold shell nanoparticles (Fe@Au) have been shown to possess cancer-preferential cytotoxicity in oral and colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. However, CRC cell lines are less sensitive to Fe@Au treatment when compared with oral cancer cell lines. In this research, Fe@Au are found to decrease the cell viability of CRC cell lines, including Caco-2, HT-29, and SW480, through growth inhibition rather than the induction of cell death. The cytotoxicity induced by Fe@Au in CRC cells uses different subcellular pathways to the mitochondria-mediated autophagy found in Fe@Au-treated oral cancer cells, OECM1. Interestingly, the Caco-2 cell line shows a similar response to OECM1 cells and is thus more sensitive to Fe@Au treatment than the other CRC cell lines studied. We have investigated the underlying cell resistance mechanisms of Fe@Au-treated CRC cells. The resistance of CRC cells to Fe@Au does not result from the total amount of Fe@Au internalized. Instead, the different amounts of Fe and Au internalized appear to determine the different response to treatment with Fe-only nanoparticles in Fe@Au-resistant CRC cells compared with the Fe@Au-sensitive OECM1 cells. The only moderately cytotoxic effect of Fe@Au nanoparticles on CRC cells, when compared to the highly sensitive OECM1 cells, appears to arise from the CRC cells’ relative insensitivity to Fe, as is demonstrated by our Fe-only treatments. This is a surprising outcome, given that Fe has thus far been considered to be the “active” component of Fe@Au nanoparticles. Instead, we have found that the Au coatings, previously considered only as a passivating coating to protect the Fe cores from oxidation, significantly enhance the cytotoxicity of Fe@Au in certain CRC cells. Therefore, we conclude that both the Fe and Au in these core–shell nanoparticles are essential for the anticancer properties observed in CRC cells.

Synthesis and luminescence properties of iridium(III) azide- and triazole-bisterpyridine complexes

We describe here the synthesis of azide-functionalised iridium(III) bisterpyridines using the “chemistry on the complex” strategy. The resulting azide-complexes are then used in the copper(I)-catalysed azide-alkyne Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition “click chemistry” reaction to from the corresponding triazole-functionalised iridium(III) bisterpyridines. The photophysical characteristics, including lifetimes, of these compounds were also investigated. Interestingly, oxygen appears to have very little effect on the lifetime of these complexes in aqueous solutions. Unexpectedly, sodium ascorbate acid appears to quench the luminescence of triazole-functionalised iridium(III) bisterpyridines, but this effect can be reversed by the addition of copper(II) sulfate, which is known to oxidize ascorbate under aerobic conditions. The results demonstrate that iridium(III) bisterpyridines can be functionalized for use in “click chemistry” facilitating the use of these photophysically interesting complexes in the modification of polymers or surfaces, to highlight just two possible applications.

Optimising the synthesis, polymer membrane encapsulation and photoreduction performance of Ru(II)- and Ir(III)-bis(terpyridine) cytochrome c bioconjugates

Ruthenium(II) and iridium(III) bis(terpyridine) complexes were prepared with maleimide functionalities in order to site-specifically modify yeast iso-1 cytochrome c possessing a single cysteine residue available for modification (CYS102). Single X-ray crystal structures were solved for aniline and maleimide Ru(II) 3 and Ru(II) 4, respectively, providing detailed structural detail of the complexes. Light-activated bioconjugates prepared from Ru(II) 4 in the presence of tris(2-carboxyethyl)-phosphine (TCEP) significantly improved yields from 6% to 27%. Photoinduced electron transfer studies of Ru(II)-cyt c in bulk solution and polymer membrane encapsulated specimens were performed using EDTA as a sacrificial electron donor. It was found that membrane encapsulation of Ru(II)-cyt c in PS140-b-PAA48 resulted in a quantum efficiency of 1.1 ± 0.3 × 10(-3), which was a two-fold increase relative to the bulk. Moreover, Ir(III)-cyt c bioconjugates showed a quantum efficiency of 3.8 ± 1.9 × 10(-1), equivalent to a ∼640-fold increase relative to bulk Ru(II)-cyt c.