Reversible Control over the Valency of a Nanoparticle-Based Supramolecular System

Emergence of complex chemistry on an organic monolayer

In many origin-of-life scenarios, inorganic materials, such as FeS or mineral clays, play an important role owing to their ability to concentrate and select small organic molecules on their surface and facilitate their chemical transformations into new molecules. However, considering that life is made up of organic matter, at a certain stage during the evolution the role of the inorganic material must have been taken over by organic molecules. How this exactly happened is unclear, and, indeed, a big gap separates the rudimentary level of organization involving inorganic materials and the complex organization of cells, which are the building blocks of life. Over the past years, we have extensively studied the interaction of small molecules with monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) for the purpose of developing innovative sensing and catalytic systems. During the course of these studies, we realized that the functional role of this system is very similar to that typically attributed to inorganic surfaces in the early stages of life, with the important being difference that the functional properties (molecular recognition, catalysis, signaling, adaptation) originate entirely from the organic monolayer rather than the inorganic support. This led us to the proposition that this system may serve as a model that illustrates how the important role of inorganic surfaces in dictating chemical processes in the early stages of life may have been taken over by organic matter. Here, we reframe our previously obtained results in the context of the origin-of-life question. The following functional roles of Au NPs will be discussed: the ability to concentrate small molecules and create different local populations, the ability to catalyze the chemical transformation of bound molecules, and, finally, the ability to install rudimentary signaling pathways and display primitive adaptive behavior. In particular, we will show that many of the functional properties of the system originate from two features: the presence of metal ions that are complexed in the organic monolayer and the multivalent nature of the system. Complexed metal ions play an important role in determining the affinity and selectivity of the interaction with small molecules, but serve also as regulatory elements for determining how many molecules are bound simultaneously. Importantly, neighboring metal ion complexes also create catalytic pockets in which two metal ions cooperatively catalyze the cleavage of an RNA-model compound. The multivalent nature of the system permits multiple noncovalent interactions with small molecules that enhances the affinity, but is also at the basis of simple signal transduction pathways and adaptive behavior.

Reversible Control of Nanoparticle Functionalization and Physicochemical Properties by Dynamic Covalent Exchange

Existing methods for the covalent functionalization of nanoparticles rely on kinetically controlled reactions, and largely lack the sophistication of the preeminent oligonucleotide-based noncovalent strategies. Here we report the application of dynamic covalent chemistry for the reversible modification of nanoparticle (NP) surface functionality, combining the benefits of non-biomolecular covalent chemistry with the favorable features of equilibrium processes. A homogeneous monolayer of nanoparticle-bound hydrazones can undergo quantitative dynamic covalent exchange. The pseudomolecular nature of the NP system allows for the in situ characterization of surface-bound species, and real-time tracking of the exchange reactions. Furthermore, dynamic covalent exchange offers a simple approach for reversibly switching-and subtly tuning-NP properties such as solvophilicity.

Reversible control of nanoparticle functionalization and physicochemical properties by dynamic covalent exchange

Existing methods for the covalent functionalization of nanoparticles rely on kinetically controlled reactions, and largely lack the sophistication of the preeminent oligonucleotide-based noncovalent strategies. Here we report the application of dynamic covalent chemistry for the reversible modification of nanoparticle (NP) surface functionality, combining the benefits of non-biomolecular covalent chemistry with the favorable features of equilibrium processes. A homogeneous monolayer of nanoparticle-bound hydrazones can undergo quantitative dynamic covalent exchange. The pseudomolecular nature of the NP system allows for the in situ characterization of surface-bound species, and real-time tracking of the exchange reactions. Furthermore, dynamic covalent exchange offers a simple approach for reversibly switching—and subtly tuning—NP properties such as solvophilicity.

Monolayer protected gold nanoparticles with metal-ion binding sites: functional systems for chemosensing applications

Au NPs containing binding sites for metal ions in the monolayer are attractive components of sensing assays.

Protein-directed approaches to functional nanomaterials: a case study of lysozyme

Using lysozyme as a model, protein-directed approaches to functional nanomaterials were reviewed, making rational materials design possible in the future.

Controlling supramolecular complex formation on the surface of a monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle in water

A combination of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions drives the self-assembly of a large number of small molecules on the surface of a monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle. The hydrophobic interactions originate from the insertion of an aromatic unit in the hydrophobic part of the monolayer. This is evidenced by a shift in the emission wavelength of the fluorogenic probe upon binding. Up to around 35 small molecules can be simultaneously bound to the monolayer surface at micromolar concentrations in water. It is shown that an understanding of the supramolecular interactions that drive complex formation on the monolayer surface provides unprecedented control over the supramolecular chemistry occurring on the surface. By taking advantage of the different kinds of noncovalent interactions present in different probes, it is possibile to displace one type of surface-bound molecule from a heteromeric surface selectively. Finally, it is also possible to catch and release one type of surface-bound molecule selectively.

Pattern-based sensing of nucleotides with functionalized gold nanoparticles

A sensing system has been obtained by self-assembly of multiple fluorescent indicators and monolayer protected gold nanoparticles. The system is able to discriminate between each of the eight nucleotides NDP and NTP (N = A, T, G, C) in a quantitative manner at micromolar concentrations.

Controlling Orientational Order in 1-D Assemblies of Multivalent Triangular Prisms

Multivalent nanostructures are becoming an increasingly important player in the self-assembly of supramolecular lattices. Understanding the role that shape plays in the coordination of the assemblies is crucial for the functional response of the material. We develop a simple design rule for the assembly of multivalent Au triangular nanoprisms into 1-D ordered arrays based on both the length of the valent DNA and the aspect ratio of the prism. Using MD simulations, we describe an order parameter that captures the short-range order of the assembly controlled by the design parameters. The order parameter shows that even short chains (N = 4) of prisms have a high degree of orientational order that transitions to no orientational order when the DNA length is similar to the prism length. Unlike isotropic polyvalent assemblies, we find that the highly oriented chains of prisms lose orientational order in discrete steps during melting as the prisms in the arrays dissociate.