1
|
Hurst PJ, Mulvey JT, Bone RA, Selmani S, Hudson RF, Guan Z, Green JR, Patterson JP. CryoEM reveals the complex self-assembly of a chemically driven disulfide hydrogel. Chem Sci 2024; 15:1106-1116. [PMID: 38239701 PMCID: PMC10793653 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05790a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Inspired by the adaptability of biological materials, a variety of synthetic, chemically driven self-assembly processes have been developed that result in the transient formation of supramolecular structures. These structures form through two simultaneous reactions, forward and backward, which generate and consume a molecule that undergoes self-assembly. The dynamics of these assembly processes have been shown to differ from conventional thermodynamically stable molecular assemblies. However, the evolution of nanoscale morphologies in chemically driven self-assembly and how they compare to conventional assemblies has not been resolved. Here, we use a chemically driven redox system to separately carry out the forward and backward reactions. We analyze the forward and backward reactions both sequentially and synchronously with time-resolved cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryoEM). Quantitative image analysis shows that the synchronous process is more complex and heterogeneous than the sequential process. Our key finding is that a thermodynamically unstable stacked nanorod phase, briefly observed in the backward reaction, is sustained for ∼6 hours in the synchronous process. Kinetic Monte Carlo modeling show that the synchronous process is driven by multiple cycles of assembly and disassembly. The collective data suggest that chemically driven self-assembly can create sustained morphologies not seen in thermodynamically stable assemblies by kinetically stabilizing transient intermediates. This finding provides plausible design principles to develop and optimize supramolecular materials with novel properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Joshua Hurst
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
- Center for Complex and Active Materials, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
| | - Justin T Mulvey
- Center for Complex and Active Materials, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
| | - Rebecca A Bone
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston Boston Massachusetts 02125 USA
| | - Serxho Selmani
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
- Center for Complex and Active Materials, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
| | - Redford F Hudson
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
| | - Zhibin Guan
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
- Center for Complex and Active Materials, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
| | - Jason R Green
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston Boston Massachusetts 02125 USA
- Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts Boston Boston Massachusetts 02125 USA
| | - Joseph P Patterson
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
- Center for Complex and Active Materials, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine Irvine California 92697 USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bone RA, Green JR. Optimizing dynamical functions for speed with stochastic paths. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:224101. [PMID: 36546817 DOI: 10.1063/5.0125479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Living systems are built from microscopic components that function dynamically; they generate work with molecular motors, assemble and disassemble structures such as microtubules, keep time with circadian clocks, and catalyze the replication of DNA. How do we implement these functions in synthetic nanostructured materials to execute them before the onset of dissipative losses? Answering this question requires a quantitative understanding of when we can improve performance and speed while minimizing the dissipative losses associated with operating in a fluctuating environment. Here, we show that there are four modalities for optimizing dynamical functions that can guide the design of nanoscale systems. We analyze Markov models that span the design space: a clock, ratchet, replicator, and self-assembling system. Using stochastic thermodynamics and an exact expression for path probabilities, we classify these models of dynamical functions based on the correlation of speed with dissipation and with the chosen performance metric. We also analyze random networks to identify the model features that affect their classification and the optimization of their functionality. Overall, our results show that the possible nonequilibrium paths can determine our ability to optimize the performance of dynamical functions, despite ever-present dissipation, when there is a need for speed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Bone
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125, USA
| | - Jason R Green
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mondal S, Greenberg JS, Green JR. Dynamic scaling of stochastic thermodynamic observables for chemical reactions at and away from equilibrium. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:194105. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0106714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical kinetic roughening processes are well-known to exhibit universal scaling of observables that fluctuate in space and time. Are there analogous dynamic scaling laws that are unique to the chemical reaction mechanisms available synthetically and occurring naturally? Here, we formulate an approach to the dynamic scaling of stochastic fluctuations in thermodynamic observables at and away from equilibrium. Both analytical expressions and numerical simulations confirm our dynamic scaling ansatz with associated scaling exponents, function, and law. A survey of common chemical mechanisms reveals classes that organize according to the molecularity of the reactions involved, the nature of the reaction vessel and external reservoirs, (non)equilibrium conditions, and the extent of autocatalysis in the reaction network. Varying experimental parameters, such as temperature, can cause coupled reactions capable of chemical feedback to transition between these classes. While path observables, such as the dynamical activity, have scaling exponents that are time-independent, the variance in the entropy production and flow can have time-dependent scaling exponents and self-averaging properties as a result of temporal correlations that emerge during thermodynamically irreversible processes. Altogether, these results establish dynamic universality classes in the nonequilibrium fluctuations of thermodynamic observables for well-mixed chemical reactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shrabani Mondal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Physical Chemistry Section, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Jonah S. Greenberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Jason R. Green
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bone RA, Sharpe DJ, Wales DJ, Green JR. Stochastic paths controlling speed and dissipation. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:054151. [PMID: 36559408 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.054151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Natural processes occur in a finite amount of time and dissipate energy, entropy, and matter. Near equilibrium, thermodynamic intuition suggests that fast irreversible processes will dissipate more energy and entropy than slow quasistatic processes connecting the same initial and final states. For small systems, recently discovered thermodynamic speed limits suggest that faster processes will dissipate more than slower processes. Here, we test the hypothesis that this relationship between speed and dissipation holds for stochastic paths far from equilibrium. To analyze stochastic paths on finite timescales, we derive an exact expression for the path probabilities of continuous-time Markov chains from the path summation solution to the master equation. We present a minimal model for a driven system in which relative energies of the initial and target states control the speed, and the nonequilibrium currents of a cycle control the dissipation. Although the hypothesis holds near equilibrium, we find that faster processes can dissipate less under far-from-equilibrium conditions because of strong currents. This model serves as a minimal prototype for designing kinetics to sculpt the nonequilibrium path space so that faster paths produce less dissipation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Bone
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125, USA
| | - Daniel J Sharpe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David J Wales
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jason R Green
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125, USA.,Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125, USA
| |
Collapse
|